HIBERNIAN have reiterated that Scott Allan will not be sold to Rangers this summer after the midfielder submitted a written transfer request. Rangers have had two bids, the second worth £225,000, for Allan rejected already as boss Mark Warburton looks to further strengthen his squad.

Herald Sport revealed last week that Rangers would go back to the table with a third offer and Allan has now attempted to force Hibernian’s hand by confirming his desire to leave the club. The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is free to sign a pre contract with Rangers from January.

A Hibernian statement read: "In the face of continued media interest, Hibernian Football Club can confirm that Scott Allan has today (Tuesday) handed in a written transfer request. This comes on the back of two unwelcome and uninvited approaches from Rangers FC regarding Scott, the first for £175,000 and the second for £225,000.

“Hibernian FC has refused both bids because the Club has no wish to transfer a valuable player to strengthen a major rival in the battle to win the Championship and gain promotion to the Premiership. Hibernian’s position has not changed. The player will not be sold to Rangers.”

Having already added seven first team players to his squad this summer, Warburton is keen to make Allan his latest recruit ahead of Rangers’ bid for the Championship title this term. The club yesterday confirmed they had sold more than 30,000 season tickets for the coming campaign and chairman Dave King insists the new Ibrox board have played their part in the rebuilding job in recent months.

"I am aware some fans have been concerned about the amount of investment in the club and hopefully they will now appreciate that not only are we spending millions on player costs but we have also invested the funds required to meet the club's costs on a monthly basis during the recent months when there has been no income,” King said. “We have been doing this since we were successful at the general meeting on March 6.”