Hearts transfers: Three deals agreed, trio linked, and door left open for star to stay

Kamson-Kamara will join the club on a four-year contract following the expiry of his deal at newly-promoted Championship side Lincoln this summer. The 20-year-old spent the past season on loan with Northern Irish top-flight side Glentoran, where he made 30 appearances.

Kamson-Kamara’s arrival will go some way to replenishing Hearts’ centre-back options after they announced that Lewis Neilson and Frankie Kent will be leaving after their contracts expired this summer.

In addition, Hearts confirmed that midfielder Beni Baningime and winger Alan Forrest will be departing.

“All four have made important contributions to the club’s success in recent years, and will move on to next stage of their careers with the best wishes and thanks of everyone at Hearts,” read a club statement.

Intriguingly, however, there was no mention of Devlin, who is also out of contract this summer.

The midfielder, currently on international duty with Australia, is exploring his options, with reported interest from American clubs. Hearts are keen to keep the influential 27-year-old but it remains to be seen if they can find a way to make it happen without breaking their wage structure.

The shock departure of Lawrence Shankland, the Jambos’ captain and highest earner, to Rangers this week may allow the club some extra scope for an improved offer for a player who has become a firm fans’ favourite since his arrival in 2021.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is also out of contract this summer but the 43-year-old is expected to retire after the World Cup after struggling with shoulder injuries over the past year.

With Marc Leonard having returned to parent club Birmingham and key defender Craig Halkett set to miss the first half of next season after rupturing his Achilles this month, Hearts are busy trying to bolster their squad for the new campaign.

While deals have already been agreed to sign Kamson-Kamara, winger Josh McPake and midfielder Tom Renaud, the Edinburgh club have also been linked with Falkirk winger Calvin Miller, York defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott and French striker Amadou Ba-Sy.

Hearts’ Costa Rican forward Kenneth Vargas, who has spent the past year on loan in his homeland, has had his contract with Alajuelense terminated after he was one of three players dropped from the national team’s pre-World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons this week.

The 24-year-old remains contracted to the William Hill Premiership club until 2029.

Hearts also confirmed that goalkeeping coach Paul Gallacher is leaving after 10 years at the club. He is expected to be replaced by St Johnstone goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall, who worked with Jambos boss Derek McInnes previously at Aberdeen.