Hearts sporting director Joe Savage insists Hearts would not have entertained any late bids for Lawrence Shankland before the transfer window slammed shut.
The stand-in Tynecastle captain has been in scintillating form this season leading to speculation over possible bids for the striker in January.
However, it did not materialise with Robbie Neilson thrilled to hold onto the striker who was "not for sale", according to Savage.
Rangers were a club heavily linked with a speculative move for Shankland - but there was nothing more to the reports than rumours with no offers for the striker.
Savage last night told BBC Sportsound that the club had received no offers for the striker and added "they wouldn't be able to afford him," when asked about Rangers interest.
The sporting director said: "They wouldn't be able to afford him! I can tell you that right now. Not a chance.
"No price, he's not for sale.
"Shanks is not going anywhere. Shanks is going to get 30-odd goals for us this season and become an absolute Hearts legend, that's the plan!"
Discussing whether there was any danger of Shankland departing in January, Savage added: "Not that we heard, to be brutally honest. No one has come to us with any sort of offer or interest to let us know that they would want to take him.
"We would have passed that message on that they are wasting their time.
"Our aim now is to try and win the Scottish Cup and finish third, and you need people like Lawrence Shankland in the team to help you achieve that.
"We were never going to listen to any offers for Lawrence Shankland in January. I can assure you of that."
Hearts were keen on a swoop for former star Callum Patterson on deadline day but had to admit defeat with Sheffield Wednesday not sanctioning a late switch.
Savage confirmed: “We tried to get one more in. It’s been well documented that we’ve had an interest in Callum Paterson.
“We made another offer today to get him and Sheffield Wednesday rejected it. They don't want to sell him so you respect their decision and you move on.
‘We’ve always preached that it's about quality rather than quantity. We tried to get Callum, it never went through so we moved on. I was home for half past seven.
“We’ll try but let's not kid ourselves, Sheffield Wednesday are a massive club and they’re doing really, really well. If they win promotion to the Championship and Callum helps them, because he’s been starting the last few games, then you never know, do you?"
