Hearts transfer necessities ranked ahead of deadline day as key areas put under microscope amid summer splurge
Hearts transfer necessities ranked ahead of deadline day as key areas put under microscope amid summer splurge.
Here’s a look at each position on the Hearts roster and where they might look to do business.
Hearts will finalise their squad options for the first half of the season next week, when the transfer window closes. A slew of moves have been approved during Derek McInnes’ first summer as head coach, with Jamestown Analytics backing him up.
Pierre Landry Kabore, Tomas Magnusson, Sabah Kerjota, Alexandros Kyziridis, Claudio Braga, Oisin McEntee, Elton Kabangu, Christian Borchgrevink, and Stuart Findlay have all joined Tynecastle during a busy summer.
Young talents such as Macaulay Tait and Lewis Neilson have gone out on loan, while Yan Dhanda has temporarily moved to Dundee for regular games.
The big departure has been James Penrice, who has joined Greek side AEK Athens, but the squad may evolve in some ways during the coming week.
We examine each position on McInnes’ side and assess whether it is necessary for them to strengthen that area.
One area that might be strengthened. A number of clubs, including Everton, have expressed interest in 23-year-old keeper Harry Tyrer.
He is one of several names on Hearts’ shortlist, having appeared on the bench for Leeds United’s Premier League opener against Everton as the Jambos dealt with injuries to Craig Gordon and Ryan Fulton. They both missed a significant portion of the season’s beginning.
Zander Clark is currently a known quantity in the Premiership and has been called up for Scotland, with young players Liam McFarlane and Harry Stone backing him.
Borchgrevink arrived in this location but sustained an injury. Michael Steinwender was the most recent player to fill in at this position in the weekend’s 3-3 draw against Motherwell, however defensive midfielder McEntee and winger Alan Forrest have also been here.
Adam Forrester has been recalled from St Johnstone to assist in this role. They are short here, but the squad is already large, so they may have enough to get by till Borchgrevink returns.
There are no concerns here. They can easily link up to two people, or three if they desire.
Craig Halkett and Findlay have been regulars, but Frankie Kent, Steinwender, and Stephen Kingsley are also available. Jamie McCart is yet to return from injury.
Left-back
Harry Milne has done an excellent job in this position since succeeding Penrice. With Kingsley’s ability to play both this position and centre back, there is no pressing need to add more players for this position.
There are plenty midfielders for McInnes to choose from. Beni Baningime, Magnusson, Cammy Devlin, McEntee, Calem Nieuwenhof, Blair Spittal, and Sander Kartum are all eligible to participate here, with the latter falling further down the rankings.
This position is more likely to see exits than additions, merely for numerical reasons. Finlay Pollock may possibly play the role of playmaker, but he is currently injured.
Kyziridis and Forrest have made regular appearances, and Kerjota will be seen more, with Kabore also capable of playing out wide. Kenneth Vargas is yet to enter the fray, and Musa Drammeh is absent from the picture.
The same conclusion applies to midfielders; there are too many numbers to evaluate. Islam Chesnokov signed a pre-contract to join Hearts in November, but his current club, Tobol Kostanay, has so far declined offers.
Striker
You’d think everything was done and dusted here as well. Lawrence Shankland remains the dominant figure, and Braga has thrived since his arrival, while James Wilson is one of the country’s rising stars. Chuck in Kabore and Kabangu, and there’s no reason for Hearts to pursue further in this area.
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