Heart of Midlothian 2025 summer transfers - Musa Drammeh joins USC Torreense; Scottish window SLAMS SHUT

[Jingle Bells]

Fraser Murray looks like he has potential,imho.

Two footed as well apparently.

[Batistuta9]

9 hours ago, Jingle Bells said:

Fraser Murray looks like he has potential,imho.

Two footed as well apparently.

Hibby.

Also 25, nearly 26, so a wee bit past that having potential stage.

 

Edited February 21, 2025 by Batistuta87

[Batistuta9]

Some nice clickbait from the BBC this morning. 

HEARTS MAKE FRESH SHANKLAND BID suggesting we've actually made an offer.

Article says Hearts intend to hold talks. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm2j40591j6o 

[cosanostra]

20 hours ago, doctor jambo said:

We absolutely did try to sign Armstrong , talks were held and he wants to join us.

Hes moving house to the central belt in the next wee while and already has the house.

Source is more than rock solid.

 

 

 

Think there's a chance he's already signed a PCA? Always rated him. I think he'd be great for us.

[Horatio Caine]

I'm surprised there's been no mention of Jimmy Dunne so far. 

Oops - just done it 

[Dazo]

41 minutes ago, cosanostra said:

 

Think there's a chance he's already signed a PCA? Always rated him. I think he'd be great for us.

If the bought a house in the central belt chat is true then I’d say he knows where he is playing next year. 

[Gundermann]

28 minutes ago, Horatio Caine said:

I'm surprised there's been no mention of Jimmy Dunne so far. 

Oops - just done it 

 

Him and Calum Paterson should be on the to do list. After the corners are filled in.

[Jingle Bells]

2 hours ago, Batistuta87 said:

Hibby.

Also 25, nearly 26, so a wee bit past that having potential stage.

 

I think it's more of a Paul Hartley senario with him being from the weege.

Got ditched by the Vermin so probably hates them too

[Juho_Makela_Goal_Machine]

Does anyone know if there's much of a realistic possibility of us signing James Wilson to a new deal in the summer? Otherwise, I can't see him being here next season, which would be a shame for the best prospect we've had at the club for many many years.

[kingantti1874]

20 minutes ago, Juho_Makela_Goal_Machine said:

Does anyone know if there's much of a realistic possibility of us signing James Wilson to a new deal in the summer? Otherwise, I can't see him being here next season, which would be a shame for the best prospect we've had at the club for many many years.

I think there’s a very realistic chance as long as he’s getting first team minutes. Hes a very clever guy, a hearts fan and seems to realise that first team football will be more valuable then academy football. I’d expect a 3 yr deal and he will look to move on when he’s 20 .. 

 

just a half glass full guess. 

[wavydavy]

55 minutes ago, kingantti1874 said:

I think there’s a very realistic chance as long as he’s getting first team minutes. Hes a very clever guy, a hearts fan and seems to realise that first team football will be more valuable then academy football. I’d expect a 3 yr deal and he will look to move on when he’s 20 .. 

 

just a half glass full guess. 

 

As far as I recall when we managed to sign him on his current deal despite the interest from many clubs in England. It was on the basis that he got first team football.

 

He has certainly had that since NC came in so here's hoping what you say comes true.

 

A three year deal at his age gives him plenty of time to mature and progress and we may put a decent figure on any release clause he may have in any new deal.

[Gordons left glove]

would take sergio Cordova for a year or two. Has pace and physicality and very composed. 27 though.

[davie1980]

On 20/02/2025 at 12:44, BackOfTheNet said:

Article about out of contract players:

 

 

I think to embrace JTA we need to freshen up as much as we can. I really don’t think Shankland is the way forward and would hope we’re not offering him a deal. Three managers now play him 90 minutes when it’s to our detriment, he has too much sway or pull and I feel it’s best for all he moves on. In my opinion of course.

 

He was the best player we have had since Skacel, for the last two season. He has a dip this term (much of which coincided with the wheels completely coming off for the whole squad) and he shouldn't be retained?

 

[GinRummy]

3 hours ago, davie1980 said:

 

He was the best player we have had since Skacel, for the last two season. He has a dip this term (much of which coincided with the wheels completely coming off for the whole squad) and he shouldn't be retained?

 

It’s more than a dip.

[BackOfTheNet]

6 hours ago, davie1980 said:

 

He was the best player we have had since Skacel, for the last two season. He has a dip this term (much of which coincided with the wheels completely coming off for the whole squad) and he shouldn't be retained?

 

In my opinion, yes. Because you might think in his 30’s he will become as good or better than he was when he peaked with us, I don’t. So if we’re extending his contract by 2 or 3 years at what will be a significant increase in pay than he’s currently on I’m sure, I want the return for that investment, and I just can’t see us getting that from him as he gets older. I also still don’t see him as proper captain material and if he stays he’ll remain captain and continue to inexplicably play 90 minutes every game available even if it’s to the detriment of the team to do so. Personally, I want a clean break and a flowing team that’s not catered to one player, which has been shown is the only way he plays well is if the team plays to his benefit.

[GinRummy]

23 minutes ago, BackOfTheNet said:

In my opinion, yes. Because you might think in his 30’s he will become as good or better than he was when he peaked with us, I don’t. So if we’re extending his contract by 2 or 3 years at what will be a significant increase in pay than he’s currently on I’m sure, I want the return for that investment, and I just can’t see us getting that from him as he gets older. I also still don’t see him as proper captain material and if he stays he’ll remain captain and continue to inexplicably play 90 minutes every game available even if it’s to the detriment of the team to do so. Personally, I want a clean break and a flowing team that’s not catered to one player, which has been shown is the only way he plays well is if the team plays to his benefit.

Great post. 

[skacel103]

40 minutes ago, BackOfTheNet said:

In my opinion, yes. Because you might think in his 30’s he will become as good or better than he was when he peaked with us, I don’t. So if we’re extending his contract by 2 or 3 years at what will be a significant increase in pay than he’s currently on I’m sure, I want the return for that investment, and I just can’t see us getting that from him as he gets older. I also still don’t see him as proper captain material and if he stays he’ll remain captain and continue to inexplicably play 90 minutes every game available even if it’s to the detriment of the team to do so. Personally, I want a clean break and a flowing team that’s not catered to one player, which has been shown is the only way he plays well is if the team plays to his benefit.

He's had a bad season for his standards. His overall play is good and makes the team tick more often than not. One of our only few international squad players. 

 

This place is actually bonkers. You'd think the new scouting system is gonna make us win the champs league according to you lot. Will improve us slightly but we're limited with how much wages we can give players. We're still shopping from the same basket. If anything it's just better value for money. 

 

I'd offer him a new deal. Silly not too. Bear in mind a new striker might need a fee etc. End up costing us more in the long run. Plus you know shankland can score at this level when he's on it. 

 

 

[BackOfTheNet]

1 hour ago, skacel103 said:

He's had a bad season for his standards. His overall play is good and makes the team tick more often than not. One of our only few international squad players. 

 

This place is actually bonkers. You'd think the new scouting system is gonna make us win the champs league according to you lot. Will improve us slightly but we're limited with how much wages we can give players. We're still shopping from the same basket. If anything it's just better value for money. 

 

I'd offer him a new deal. Silly not too. Bear in mind a new striker might need a fee etc. End up costing us more in the long run. Plus you know shankland can score at this level when he's on it. 

 

 

We know Shankland can score at this level when the entire team and system is geared towards making him score. Even at his peak this was noticeable and it was pointed out at that point that it limits us as a team not to be able to play different ways. One of the main reasons he’s been off it this season is we’re starting to find different ways of attacking, and this leaves him lacking.

 

You’re of course entitled to your opinion, as am I, so I have to politely disagree on this one. You make a good point about wages, which is why I’d rather we invest the available wages we do have on either a great loan signing or two or on a gem found that has pace and industry to make us more of a whole flowing team. Shankland is probably on £4–£6k per week right now I imagine, he’d want a raise for signing on I’m sure. Personally I think rather than giving him £9k-£10k per week I’d rather have two younger and more industrious team players on £5k per week. I also don’t want a Boyce situation where Shankland sits on a contract for a year or two longer than he should.

[The_razors_edge]

Dan Casey PCA 👀 🤔

[Newton51]

Saw this before about Casey. Is he more of a defender than midfield 

[pettigrewsstylist]

Nobody else in the squad currently, the ball can even remotely "stick to"

[gwd1957]

23 minutes ago, pettigrewsstylist said:

Nobody else in the squad currently, the ball can even remotely "stick to"

Stick's good to Beni.

[gwd1957]

55 minutes ago, The_razors_edge said:

Dan Casey PCA 👀 🤔

Is he an upgrade on anybody ?

[Bongo 1874]

1 hour ago, The_razors_edge said:

Dan Casey PCA 👀 🤔

Just a rumour or you seeing this mate?

[The_razors_edge]

10 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

Just a rumour or you seeing this mate?

Got a message tonight from a mate. Same mate who weirdly messaged me at 10.07 this morning to tell me McGrath was signing for hibs which I think was before it was announced by all the major news outlets. I’ve asked him where he heard about Casey from but he hasn’t got back to me.

 

He’s friends with a couple of current pro’s (granted not Hearts related) so he gets the occasional whisper. 

[GorgieRulesApply1]

Dan Casey has been mentioned before as well, sure he can play rb or rcb ? This just for cover or are we signing him with a view to him being at rb? Wonder if we’re planning on making Taylor’s deal permanent or not …..

[heartsfc_fan]

Is Casey a out in out central defender? If so who does he replace? Unless we are planning to let Halkett and/or Kent go.

[GorgieRulesApply1]

8 minutes ago, heartsfc_fan said:

Is Casey a out in out central defender? If so who does he replace? Unless we are planning to let Halkett and/or Kent go.

That’s what I was just thinking is someone maybe on there way out and he’s coming in as cover, sure his position is cb , played on the right of a 3 and think he can play at rb as well

[cosanostra]

A Motherwell fan told me about this a few weeks ago. He's a centre half and apparently a bit of an aggressive nutter. He may actually have gotten a red. And against us at one point.

[manaliveits105]

A no nonsense centre back would certainly rid us of the previous "being bullied" tag 

[Carter]

Casey seemingly is a done deal.

[Pasquale for King]

44 minutes ago, cosanostra said:

A Motherwell fan told me about this a few weeks ago. He's a centre half and apparently a bit of an aggressive nutter. He may actually have gotten a red. And against us at one point.

I don’t think hes been red carded at all for Motherwell, he did have the chin high challenge on Boyce that wasn’t given as a penalty. 
Hes 27 and hasn’t stood out against us, can’t see him being someone JA would identify even as a back up CH/RB.

[Bongo 1874]

1 hour ago, The_razors_edge said:

Got a message tonight from a mate. Same mate who weirdly messaged me at 10.07 this morning to tell me McGrath was signing for hibs which I think was before it was announced by all the major news outlets. I’ve asked him where he heard about Casey from but he hasn’t got back to me.

 

He’s friends with a couple of current pro’s (granted not Hearts related) so he gets the occasional whisper. 

Feels like a Halkett replacement, very similar hopefully more fit though.

 

 

 

[GorgieRulesApply1]

 

[Niemi’s gloves]

5 hours ago, Pasquale for King said:

I don’t think hes been red carded at all for Motherwell, he did have the chin high challenge on Boyce that wasn’t given as a penalty. 
Hes 27 and hasn’t stood out against us, can’t see him being someone JA would identify even as a back up CH/RB.

Sent off twice this season but the second one in December (for a fairly minor confrontation with Danny Armstrong) was rightly downgraded on appeal to a yellow. The one in September was for a hand ball in the box deemed to be denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Five yellow cards this season, including the downgraded red, which isn’t particularly high for a central defender.

[Niemi’s gloves]

5 hours ago, Pasquale for King said:

I don’t think hes been red carded at all for Motherwell, he did have the chin high challenge on Boyce that wasn’t given as a penalty. 
Hes 27 and hasn’t stood out against us, can’t see him being someone JA would identify even as a back up CH/RB.

On your JA point on Dan Casey,  I’m not so sure. A youth with Sunderland and subsequently played his football back in Ireland and then in the second tier in the US before joining Motherwell. Isn’t that the sort of under-the-radar background that a JA value signing might have?

[tiger Rudi]

6 hours ago, GorgieRulesApply1 said:

Dan Casey has been mentioned before as well, sure he can play rb or rcb ? This just for cover or are we signing him with a view to him being at rb? Wonder if we’re planning on making Taylor’s deal permanent or not …..

I think Taylor's deal is really up for discussion tbh. If the fee of 800 thou mentioned before is true, I can't see us paying it. He's had some spectacular games, but not nearly enough of them. His injury obviously held him back, but unless he gets a lot of starts between now and the end of the season, I really don't see us wanting to keep him.

In those circumstances, if Casey can play RB, then that signing makes a lot of sense.

 

Still time for Taylor to prove his worth, but he won't do it sitting on the bench. Shame really, he looked a different level when he first arrived!

[Rick Sanchez]

Boy looks like he loves defending.

 

I would personally like a replacement for Halkett and would just leave him until the end of the season so he's fit for another club in the summer.

 

Availability is a key attribute.

[johnking123]

Think halkett and Kent will move. Stats have probably said this similar player that is improving and is cheaper wage wise. But fits our system we want to play better.

Edited February 26, 2025 by johnking123

[hmfc_liam06]

That’s two people who’ve now said 27 years of age as being a negative.

 

JA signings so far:

 

Kabangu 26 (now 27)

Kartum 29

Milne 28

McCart 27

Steinwender 24

 

So what is it that makes folk think being 27 is some sort of barrier?

[pettigrewsstylist]

1 hour ago, tiger Rudi said:

I think Taylor's deal is really up for discussion tbh. If the fee of 800 thou mentioned before is true, I can't see us paying it. He's had some spectacular games, but not nearly enough of them. His injury obviously held him back, but unless he gets a lot of starts between now and the end of the season, I really don't see us wanting to keep him.

In those circumstances, if Casey can play RB, then that signing makes a lot of sense.

 

Still time for Taylor to prove his worth, but he won't do it sitting on the bench. Shame really, he looked a different level when he first arrived!

Yip, running out of games. I guess we trust Critchley to decide if he plays or not, week to week, but needs games to allow decision. Time running out.

[Batistuta9]

12 hours ago, gwd1957 said:

Is he an upgrade on anybody ?

Probably an upgrade on Neilson. Might be a better option / more reliable than Halkett with his injury problems. 

Plays RCB and RB but reckon he could play right across the back line in a pinch. He carries the ball forward and noticed him in and around our box quite a lot the last time we played them. Probably a decent pickup on a free, as he'd give us some useable cover across the defence.

 

Edited February 26, 2025 by Batistuta87

[Pasquale for King]

5 hours ago, Niemi’s gloves said:

Sent off twice this season but the second one in December (for a fairly minor confrontation with Danny Armstrong) was rightly downgraded on appeal to a yellow. The one in September was for a hand ball in the box deemed to be denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Five yellow cards this season, including the downgraded red, which isn’t particularly high for a central defender.

I should’ve looked. 

 

5 hours ago, Niemi’s gloves said:

On your JA point on Dan Casey,  I’m not so sure. A youth with Sunderland and subsequently played his football back in Ireland and then in the second tier in the US before joining Motherwell. Isn’t that the sort of under-the-radar background that a JA value signing might have?

Its not just under the radar its excelling at your position with the possibility of being coached to become better and be sold on at a young age. 
Is he doing that or in that bracket? McCart isn’t either i suppose. 

[Pasquale for King]

5 hours ago, tiger Rudi said:

I think Taylor's deal is really up for discussion tbh. If the fee of 800 thou mentioned before is true, I can't see us paying it. He's had some spectacular games, but not nearly enough of them. His injury obviously held him back, but unless he gets a lot of starts between now and the end of the season, I really don't see us wanting to keep him.

In those circumstances, if Casey can play RB, then that signing makes a lot of sense.

 

Still time for Taylor to prove his worth, but he won't do it sitting on the bench. Shame really, he looked a different level when he first arrived!

We are going to be average at RB if its a CB and Forrester as our options.

[Pasquale for King]

4 hours ago, hmfc_liam06 said:

That’s two people who’ve now said 27 years of age as being a negative.

 

JA signings so far:

 

Kabangu 26 (now 27)

Kartum 29

Milne 28

McCart 27

Steinwender 24

 

So what is it that makes folk think being 27 is some sort of barrier?

Fair point, i think they’re established players who will improve us, Milner is a back up obviously, thats all Casey will be as hes not going to improve the first team. 

[chrystaf]

On 23/02/2025 at 10:09, BackOfTheNet said:

We know Shankland can score at this level when the entire team and system is geared towards making him score. Even at his peak this was noticeable and it was pointed out at that point that it limits us as a team not to be able to play different ways. One of the main reasons he’s been off it this season is we’re starting to find different ways of attacking, and this leaves him lacking.

 

You’re of course entitled to your opinion, as am I, so I have to politely disagree on this one. You make a good point about wages, which is why I’d rather we invest the available wages we do have on either a great loan signing or two or on a gem found that has pace and industry to make us more of a whole flowing team. Shankland is probably on £4–£6k per week right now I imagine, he’d want a raise for signing on I’m sure. Personally I think rather than giving him £9k-£10k per week I’d rather have two younger and more industrious team players on £5k per week. I also don’t want a Boyce situation where Shankland sits on a contract for a year or two longer than he should.

I think that the ball is in our court and no way are we going to offer him such an increase.  I think he can still bring a lot to the team but on our terms.  If he becomes difficult to negotiate then goodbye and thanks for the memories.

[Chillidigits]

4 hours ago, pettigrewsstylist said:

Yip, running out of games. I guess we trust Critchley to decide if he plays or not, week to week, but needs games to allow decision. Time running out.

Yeah I think assessment time for him (and some others) will follow once we've nailed top 6 . Hopefully very soon.

[Pasquale for King]

4 minutes ago, Chillidigits said:

Yeah I think assessment time for him (and some others) will follow once we've nailed top 6 . Hopefully very soon.

We might not make top six unless he starts playing soon.

[Chimp]

5 hours ago, tiger Rudi said:

I think Taylor's deal is really up for discussion tbh. If the fee of 800 thou mentioned before is true, I can't see us paying it. He's had some spectacular games, but not nearly enough of them. His injury obviously held him back, but unless he gets a lot of starts between now and the end of the season, I really don't see us wanting to keep him.

In those circumstances, if Casey can play RB, then that signing makes a lot of sense.

 

Still time for Taylor to prove his worth, but he won't do it sitting on the bench. Shame really, he looked a different level when he first arrived!

 

I keep seeing the same thing said about Taylor and us not deciding to buy him permanently. However there's nothing to stop us just loaning him again on a similar deal? If we want to see more of him and think he's potentially still got what it takes then we could go down that route.

[tartofmidlothian]

On 20/02/2025 at 21:32, Agentjambo said:

Aliseda - out of contract in the summer.

Abed - Valued at €650,000.

El Kachati - out of contact in the summer.

 

Is this just a wish list, or are you ITK on any?