Hearts target right-back in January transfer window as exits, Chesnokov and Baningime new deal discussed

Chief executive Andrew McKinlay has confirmed that they are looking at options to compete with Christian Borchgrevink and Oisin McEntee, who have been Hearts’ primary right-backs this season. They already have Kazakh winger Islam Chesnokov arriving on a free transfer from FC Tobol in his homeland and are hopeful he can make his debut against Livingston on January 3.

Replenishing the squad is not dependent on outgoings, although Hearts are currently operating with a first-team squad of 30. Players such as Zander Clark, Calem Nieuwenhof and Sander Kartum are on the fringes of head coach Derek McInnes’ matchday group and the Jam Tarts would like to trim the wage bill accordingly.

Speaking after the Tynecastle club’s annual general meeting, CEO McKinlay said: “We would like to move some players out. I think it's fairly clear that our squad is too big. We said that at the end of the summer. At the end of the summer, one of the issues potentially was - and this is the right thing, but it had a consequence - was Derek was keen to give everyone an opportunity.

“I think there were probably some players that at the end of August maybe still thought they would be in his thoughts. As we come to January, I'm suspecting there might be one or few that are suddenly, ‘I'm not’.

“So we'll have some players who are under contract for more than just the end of the season. Now, then you get the whole argument of if you're younger, do you think I need to go out and play? If you're older, do you think is it better just to stay here? So you get all those sorts of complexities. But yeah, we would like to do some moving out.

“Having said that, we'll always look at the people coming in. I think the one that's been talked about is the right-back and we are looking at that. Having said that - getting different views - but I thought Borchgrevink was very good last night [agaibst Kilmarnock] and I got the impression when he was brought off from the fan reaction that they were pleased to see him. Let's hope he can go a bit injury-free and we can see more of him at right-back.

Chesnokov to Hearts latest

“When you look around the team and I think most of you have said this in your articles, we are covered fairly heavily in most positions. That doesn't mean we don't want to upgrade where we can, but it's got to be sensible. And the other one I think, of course, we need to remember is Chesnokov coming in as well, which is important. I think everyone's quite excited about him and looking forward to that.

“Other than that, we will look at things, but there's no other area of the team where I think we look really, we need someone there. We're fairly well covered.”

Reports in Kazakhstan last month had stated that Chesnokov’s pre-contract deal was in danger of fallinh through amid competition from Russian clubs. “Not a specific moment,” McKinlay replied when asked if he ever feared he would not sign for Hearts. “You're always concerned when you're dealing with difficult markets, shall we say, without putting too fine a point on it. And there was also some Russian interest and it makes it quite difficult for us - engaging with Russia is not the easiest thing at the moment. So I never thought it was actually off. Once we'd done the player's pre-contract, I was pretty sure.

“At the moment they're working through his visa and all that sort of stuff. So that's all happening and he's fully engaged in that. So that gives me pretty good hope that he is coming.”

McKinlay was also asked about a new contract for influential midfielder Beni Baningime, who will be free to talk to other clubs next month with his current deal expiring next summer. He is one of eight senior players in that position.

“It's an interesting one and again, people have different views on Beni as a player,” added McKinlay. “And Beni will have his own views. Beni, as you probably know, is a very thoughtful individual and he'll make his own decision as to what he wants to do come the end of the season.”