It was one of the top talking points at Rangers this January but in the end it seems it wasn't to be.
Morgan Whittaker is one of Swansea City's highly-rated talents and after ripping up League One with promotion chasers Plymouth Argyle on loan in the first half of this term, was recalled to Wales by manager and former Ibrox defender Russell Martin. Step forward a lengthy transfer saga, with both clubs batting contrasting statements to each other in the media before eventually, the deal was deemed dead and Light Blues boss Michael Beale decided to move forward with his attacking arsenal at present.
With Ianis Hagi back in contention after a serious knee injury, on top of Ryan Kent, Scott Wright and Fashion Sakala, there's options on the flanks for Beale to use. But Whittaker might be one name that they circle back to for when the summer window opens up again, and here are the key moments from how the saga panned out.
The first bid
It was reported on January 16 the first bid had arrived for Whittaker. Claims were made of a £900,000 offer and up until that point, had not featured for the Swans since being recalled to Wales.
Their valuation was reported too and it was more than double at £2m, with unnamed suitors down south also being reported as keen. But that was only the start of their pursuit, as events quickly hit the accelerator. Record Sport reported later that day that Whittaker was keen for the move but that gap in valuations proved a stumbling block.
Well short
Beale had said that he thought Whittaker would 'probably' move on in this window but that hasn't happened as he predicted earlier this month .It seems he didn't confirm Rangers interest outright, whereas his counterpart in Wales did. Martin claimed a Rangers bid but that was news to the Govan boss after his side's 3-2 win over Kilmarnock.
Speaking of an offer from Glasgow, Swansea's manager said: "We have rejected an offer from them, that's it. No-one is selling anyone on the cheap - they are good players. We will just have to wait and see. It's not my remit - I don't value the players, I don't negotiate with the other clubs."
Squad mystery
Then came the weekend of January 21. Martin had said the winger was going to be named in his squad to face QPR - which would end any hopes of a Rangers transfer as he can't play for three clubs in one season. There was then huge relief when it was revealed that he was not in the team.
It was frustrating for those in Wales, but any chances of a deal had cold water thrown on them by the gaffer: "I can't see how a deal gets done with how far apart the two clubs are. We have to respect his frame of mind. I am sure there will be loads of people who will be upset by it and frustrated by it, but he's a young man. It's frustrating as it just means it is longer until we can get him on the pitch with us. It'll be 10 days and then the window will be closed and we can look at getting him on the pitch."
The end?
After reports of third bids, talk of Whittaker had slowly began to cool down on the forward. Yet, there was still dubiety over what came next for the Swans man and the 30th is when Beale decided to pull the curtain down on his pursuit of Whittaker.
That's not to say he isn't one who could rock up in blue when the warmer months roll in. He simply said that Whittaker 'will be staying at Swansea I believe' and with that, a saga had its end. It perhaps isn't the end Rangers wanted. But this story could have chapter to write in months to come as the Ibrox giants look to solve that problem right-wing position.
