Breaking: Hearts in talks to sign €3.4M RB as Steven Naismith looks to add to pre-contracts
The Jambos already have three coming in and want more for next season.
Despite their Euro cash windfall, Steven Naismith has stated that Hearts will not spend heavily this summer. However, they will continue to seek profitable opportunities.
The third-placed Jambos have strengthened their roster by recruiting pre-contract players James Penrice (Livingston), Blair Spittal (Motherwell), and Yan Dhanda (Ross County). That surely helps to strengthen the squad ahead of a grueling group stage schedule in the Conference League or Europa League, and the three newcomers provide talent.
Naismith has secured European funding for the second time in three years, reducing the possibility of a summer spending spree. However, the Tynecastle men will not be satisfied with just three acquisitions, and plans are working to add more.
Football Scotland plans to fill multiple roles this summer. Unsurprisingly, the emphasis will be on right-back/wing-back. It’s been a problem position since Michael Smith retired, and neither Dexter Lembikisa nor Nathaniel Atkinson impressed when they played there last season.
Lembikisa’s loan from Wolves has ended and while Naismith didn’t rule out a return for the Jamaica international, it’s a position that is a priority for Jambos chiefs. With the boss usually flitting between a 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2, it’s an important position and anyone coming in needs to be able to switch between playing as a full-back and a wing-back.
The club’s second aim is to find a centre midfielder capable of playing in the ‘number six’ position. Beni Baningime’s contract has been extended following fears that he would go, but there isn’t anyone in place who can do the same role, so it will be a focus in the market. A right winger will also be sought to compete with players such as Yutaro Oda and Kenneth Vargas.
Football Scotland recognizes that there are more positions of concern beyond the three mentioned above. A third-choice goalkeeper is on the list, however it has been suggested recently that Ryan Fulton would be signed from Hamilton.
Despite the acquisition of Penrice, left-back is also on the list, presumably if Alex Cochrane decides to leave in this window, with Stephen Kingsley being deployed more frequently at centre-back.
In addition, they will consider signing another center midfielder who can play more in the eight role and a forward who can play as the’second striker’. It might be a hectic summer in Gorgie!
