Hearts are keen to push ahead and accelerate a deal to sign Ugandan striker Rogers Mato before the end of the transfer window.
It was confirmed last week that Hearts had agreed a pre-contract with Mato that would see him join the club in the summer from North Macedonian outfit FK Vardar.
But the move took a bizarre twist when Vardar then tried to claim they were in the process of selling Mato to Sporting Kansas City for a fee just shy of £1million.
The MLS side later acknowledged the player’s impending move to Hearts and conceded there was no prospect of a deal being done to take him to America.
The handling of the whole affair has prompted a bitter dispute between Mato and his employers, who are angered by Hearts effectively signing him on a free transfer.
But, whilst Hearts have no intention of paying any alleged release clause, there is a recognition that it is better for all parties to strike a deal as soon as possible.
Uganda striker Rogers Mato scores for his nation against Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations
Lawrence Shankland may face a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury against Falkirk
Derek McInnes is keen to accelerate the pre-contract deal he has already agreed with Mato
Derek McInnes’ side have suffered a rash of injuries recently, the most recent of which saw striker and captain Lawrence Shankland pick up a knock in the Scottish Cup defeat to Falkirk at the weekend.
Key midfielder Cammy Devlin could also be out for up to two months after limping off with an ankle injury in the victory over St Mirren last week.
Beni Baningime is also suspended for the blockbuster clash with title rivals Celtic this weekend, with Hearts looking to cement their position at the top of the table.
The Tynecastle club are now keen to tie up a deal for Mato to give the team some reinforcements at the top end of the pitch for the title run-in.
Speaking at the weekend, McInnes said: ‘We’ve got too many injuries going through the club at the minute. We’ve got an opportunity to maybe react in the transfer market this week.
‘Losing wee Cammy Devlin was a blow, Baningime is suspended [against Celtic]. It goes without saying that we’re a bit short in that area as well. It will be a challenge but we’ll be ready for them.’
Meanwhile, former Hearts and Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley insists this season’s title race will go all the way to the wire.
Hearts sit top of the pile, with Celtic and Rangers both six points behind, now that every team has played each other twice.
Hartley believes it could make for a thrilling finale — and insists the transfer business of all three clubs in January will be pivotal to the outcome.
‘It is fascinating,’ he said. ‘It’s exciting — and it’s about time we had a title race in Scotland. It’s always been kind of limited to one-way traffic, I’m looking forward to it.
‘It’s all to play for and I think it will come right down to the last day of the season to be honest with you.
‘Derek (McInnes) has done a brilliant job, he’s got them organised and they have signed some really good players, their recruitment has been spot-on.
Midfielder Cammy Devlin could face two months on the sidelines and is a big miss for Hearts
Former Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley believes the Tynecastle men CAN win the league
‘You can see the spirit is there, the atmosphere at Tynecastle, the anticipation, and I think they believe they can win the league.
‘This is a big window, I think it’s a big window for Celtic in terms of recruitment, they know they are short.
‘Everybody has been going on about the lack of strikers, and it will be important for Martin [O’Neill] to get three or four players in and see how they come out at the end of the window.
‘Hearts have a few injury issues. Will Derek go back into the market to bring some more in?
‘They’ve acted early and so have Rangers to bring new faces in, so Celtic are the ones that are a wee bit weak in their squad just now.
‘Hearts are in the driving seat. It’s about who comes out of this transfer window the strongest now, and then it will be down to whoever is the most consistent.
‘Celtic will need to get some players in; they’ve not been playing well, and they have been looking for a main attacker since Kyogo left over a year ago.
‘We have a great-run in ahead of us, and I am really looking forward to it between now and the end of the season.’
