McGlynn can’t risk Ryan KO

The Chinese Super League club are poised to sign the 23-year-old after having a £400,000 offer accepted by skint Hearts.

And boss McGlynn confirmed the Aussie international will play no part in tonight’s Edinburgh derby in case he gets injured — just as SunSport exclusively revealed yesterday.

McGlynn said: “The club has accepted a bid for Ryan, subject to a medical, so he won’t play against Hibs.

“Although he has not put pen to paper, we can’t run the risk of him getting injured and possibly making that deal a problem.

“He hasn’t signed yet and I know fans will be saying he is still a Hearts player and should play. But if he got a serious injury that deal would go down the tubes. This club needs the money.”

McGowan will now fly to China with agent Lou Sticca later today to hold talks with Shandong, who last won the title three years ago.

The Aussie is poised to join a squad which is bossed by ex-Real Madrid and Barcelona coach Radomir Antic and includes former Celtic flop Du Wei.

Sticca told SunSport: “It’s a very exciting offer for Ryan. His heart is with Hearts, but given the situation, this is something that had to happen.

“Ryan goes knowing in a way he is helping Hearts survive, which is important to him.

“But I must stress this is not a done deal just yet.”

Hearts will be unable to replace McGowan with the club operating under an indefinite transfer embargo.

And boss McGlynn revealed he does not think McGowan will be the only player to leave this month.

He said: “Ryan is out of contract in the summer and if the club were in a better financial situation it would not need to be done.

“We are where we are. If the club feel they need to sell any other players then that will be the reason why. We have to get to the summer.

“The club targeted £1.8million from the recent share issue we had and the fans did magnificently, raising just over £1m.

“But we are still short of that, and if the money we get for Ryan doesn’t fill that gap, that suggests someone else has maybe got to go.

“I don’t think we are in a position to turn down any reasonable offer. We are still paying out far too much money and not bringing in enough.”