HEARTS manager Craig Levein dismissed reports that Rangers will make a move for 17-year-old defender Aaron Hickey - and revealed that discussions are ongoing between the club and the player to formalise a new contract.

Levein was unconcerned with reports that Rangers' new director Ross Wilson had earmarked Hickey as a potential January transfer for the Ibrox club, and was of the opinion that the rumours were simply an attempt to unsettle the defender ahead of Sunday's match against Rangers at Tynecastle.

"Who do we play at the weekend? We’re going to put an offer in for [Alfredo] Morelos tomorrow," Levein joked to the Edinburgh Evening News. "I’m taking that one with a lump of salt.

The Herald:

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"I’m still working on [a new contract for Hickey]. I want to just try and get it done with his dad and then I’ll talk about it."

Hickey shot to fame after putting in an assured performance in Hearts' 2-1 defeat tp Celtic in last season's Scotttish Cup final and scored the winner in last month's Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road.

The left-back left Celtic's youth academy before joining Hearts, and it is believed that the Scottish champions would be in line for 30% of any future transfer fee.