Heart Of Midlothian winter transfer window 2025/2026 - Wilson loaned to Spurs; transfer window slams shut

[johnking123]

6 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

Just isn’t true. Del turned in disgust on Saturday at Devlin going back to the centre back more than once. It didn’t happen after mind you, he soon got the message, but Beni isn’t more guilty.

Agree about Devlin in first 20 minutes.  But later, he was making driving runs into the box. Beni had opportunity to do that, but had chosen to make easy pass instead.  It's a shame, think Beni has the skill. Just not brave enough.  But let's not talk about shooting either.

[OTT]

15 minutes ago, johnking123 said:

Think Beni is has still been a bit guilty of it.  More than Devlin.  Think it's frustrating the boss. If we have money,  think we will use it on our midfield again. But hopefully get fringe players, moving out.

 

I agree with this - although I don't think there is any "think" about it!  Beni's refusal to shoot is a huge issue. Something I keep harping back to is our cup final defeat to Rangers. For over 90 minutes we matched them, and held them back. We ended up being outdone by a Ryan Jack strike from just outside the box because he had the bottle to take that shot on. If the ball falls to Beni in a similar space, he's not shooting and therefore, we're not scoring. My point is that big games can often be decided on fine margins, and players willingness to step up, be brave and take responsibility to make something happen. 

 

I see it as a bit of an abdication of responsibility from him, and its frustrating because he does so much else so, so well (one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, had Watson & Polworth on toast last weekend), but this is a huge aspect to his game which is just missing, that big a gap you could fly a ****ing plane through it. Appreciate @RustyRightPeg has disagreed with you around the passing, and I can kind of agree with that. Both players are very guilty of defaulting to safe passes which don't progress play very much, this has been a consistent theme throughout Robbie, Naismith & Critchleys time at the helm too. The difference is Devlin is actually willing to take a punt at goal - even if his shooting is awful, without that willingness we don't get our result against Rosenborg. 

 

I don't really see Beni's unwillingness to even attempt a shot as a bit of a joke or laughing matter anymore, its not on TBH and as good as he is, it wouldn't surprise me if he's replaced soon. In a 2 man midfield, you can't have a player who seems to have a mental block when it comes to even attempting to take a shot. The reason we've went out and got Ageu is because Devlin & Beni are so limited in an attacking sense. Appreciate folk could argue its not their job, but look at Celtic, Rangers - players like McGregor, Hatate, Raskin, Dowell all have the ability to take a punt at goal if they need to. If we aspire to reach higher with what we achieve on the field, we need players willing to do that too. 

[johnking123]

My hope if for better in midfield.  Ageu and someone to to complement him. Then have Devlin in back up with Magnússon and young midfielder like Watson.  

[N Lincs Jambo]

23 minutes ago, OTT said:

 

I agree with this - although I don't think there is any "think" about it!  Beni's refusal to shoot is a huge issue. Something I keep harping back to is our cup final defeat to Rangers. For over 90 minutes we matched them, and held them back. We ended up being outdone by a Ryan Jack strike from just outside the box because he had the bottle to take that shot on. If the ball falls to Beni in a similar space, he's not shooting and therefore, we're not scoring. My point is that big games can often be decided on fine margins, and players willingness to step up, be brave and take responsibility to make something happen. 

 

I see it as a bit of an abdication of responsibility from him, and its frustrating because he does so much else so, so well (one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, had Watson & Polworth on toast last weekend), but this is a huge aspect to his game which is just missing, that big a gap you could fly a ****ing plane through it. Appreciate @RustyRightPeg has disagreed with you around the passing, and I can kind of agree with that. Both players are very guilty of defaulting to safe passes which don't progress play very much, this has been a consistent theme throughout Robbie, Naismith & Critchleys time at the helm too. The difference is Devlin is actually willing to take a punt at goal - even if his shooting is awful, without that willingness we don't get our result against Rosenborg. 

 

I don't really see Beni's unwillingness to even attempt a shot as a bit of a joke or laughing matter anymore, its not on TBH and as good as he is, it wouldn't surprise me if he's replaced soon. In a 2 man midfield, you can't have a player who seems to have a mental block when it comes to even attempting to take a shot. The reason we've went out and got Ageu is because Devlin & Beni are so limited in an attacking sense. Appreciate folk could argue its not their job, but look at Celtic, Rangers - players like McGregor, Hatate, Raskin, Dowell all have the ability to take a punt at goal if they need to. If we aspire to reach higher with what we achieve on the field, we need players willing to do that too. 

 

Great post!

[Smithian]

8 hours ago, JimmyCant said:

I’d agree 👍 Tait won’t play for Hearts again. He’s not our (future) level. Never has been. Never will be

 

Wilson is the same. Just not our level

Macaulay Tait is 20 years old and is a first choice player for a Livi team that, despite being bottom of the table, is putting in a solid show this season. How can we possibly write off a 20 year old holding his own in the top flight? Not ever player has to be a star. We need some cogs and I can easily see a world where Tait is a rotation midfielder as soon as next season if Hearts put up some wins in Europe and in cup play and need to rotate the squad. 

 

I don't know what to say about Wilson. Fact at 19 he can'tbeat out Shankland, Braga, and Kabangu is no shame.

Edited October 22, 2025 by Smithian

[Gershwin]

8 minutes ago, Smithian said:

Macaulay Tait is 20 years old and is a first choice player for a Livi team that, despite being bottom of the table, is putting in a solid show this season. How can we possibly write off a 20 year old holding his own in the top flight? Not ever player has to be a star. We need some cogs and I can easily see a world where Tait is a rotation midfielder as soon as next season if Hearts put up some wins in Europe and in cup play and need to rotate the squad. 

 

I don't know what to say about Wilson. Fact at 19 he can'tbeat out Shankland, Braga, and Kabangu is no shame.

 

I have always felt that Tait's development was hindered by Naismith after that cup semi against Rangers – where his poor pass cost us a goal and ultimately ended our interest in the tie.

 

Tait had been really effective off the bench that season but after that one mistake Naismith pretty much scratched his minutes entirely, saying his confidence was shot and he'd decided to take him out the firing line. Which seemed like a massive over-reaction.

 

I don't think Critchley set him up for success either when he randomly decided to start him in our decisive Euro group game last December.

[tcjambo]

19 hours ago, All roads lead to Gorgie said:

I wonder if Killie would take Spittal and Hof in a part exchange for Watson. The players would want to go and Watson would want to come here but it sounds like he may be another one where playing in Glasgow is the be all and end all. I could see Spittal being keen for first team action but Killie might be worried about Hofs fitness issues to consider any offers we made to them on him. 

Spittal won't leave in my opinion. I suspect he is happy being a squad player as long as that continues. McInnes seems to like him and the fans seem to under-rate him. The Hof is a different prospect. If he does have one of those clauses, he will probably have to move on.

[Juho_Makela_Goal_Machine]

Watson is only really being hyped because he's young, Scottish and has scored a few goals.

 

His all round game is not good enough imo for us at this stage to consider spending the compensation that would be required to get him on a PCA.

 

In terms of level, he's a lot closer to a Macaulay Tait than a Lennon Miller, and Tait is a jambo already. If we're paying good money, probably 600-800k (recent precedent is the Connor Barron to Rangers deal), we're signing a someone closer to a Lennon Miller.

[Batistuta9]

5 hours ago, Juho_Makela_Goal_Machine said:

Watson is only really being hyped because he's young, Scottish and has scored a few goals.

 

His all round game is not good enough imo for us at this stage to consider spending the compensation that would be required to get him on a PCA.

 

In terms of level, he's a lot closer to a Macaulay Tait than a Lennon Miller, and Tait is a jambo already. If we're paying good money, probably 600-800k (recent precedent is the Connor Barron to Rangers deal), we're signing a someone closer to a Lennon Miller.

 

Are you forgetting the lad is only 20 years old? By the time he turns 21 he'll be approaching 100 senior appearances for Killie and about a dozen goals from defensive mid. That's impressive. Ability wise he's probably somewhere in between Tait and Miller. Much better than Tait but of course nowhere near as good or as well rounded as Miller.

As above he's far from a starting 11 player for us right now - but would be a useful signing while we're in with any sort of chance of getting him, because he will be worth a few quid and out of our reach soon. 

 

Edited October 23, 2025 by Batistuta87

[Juho_Makela_Goal_Machine]

7 minutes ago, Batistuta87 said:

 

Are you forgetting the lad is only 20 years old? By the time he turns 21 he'll be approaching 100 senior appearances for Killie and about a dozen goals from defensive mid. That's impressive. Ability wise he's probably somewhere in between Tait and Miller. Much better than Tait but of course nowhere near as good or as well rounded as Miller.

As above he's far from a starting 11 player for us right now - but would be a useful signing while we're in with any sort of chance of getting him, because he will be worth a few quid and out of our reach soon. 

 

 

I think he's a good prospect but at ~700k I would rather get 3 Jamestown players all day long.

[Batistuta9]

7 minutes ago, Juho_Makela_Goal_Machine said:

 

I think he's a good prospect but at ~700k I would rather get 3 Jamestown players all day long.

Aye, depends on the money - absolutely. 

He could be a good JTA player too. 

 

[johnking123]

We need a few young Scots.  If JTA say yes. then we do everything we can to get him. Sure he will be on Derek's wish list.

[Captain Sausage]

Did anyone else here McInnes say we have ‘one or two more already coming in January’ during his post match with the bbc?

 

Chesnekov and Kenzebekh???

[feej]

4 minutes ago, Captain Sausage said:

Did anyone else here McInnes say we have ‘one or two more already coming in January’ during his post match with the bbc?

 

Chesnekov and Kenzebekh???

I did, was gonna post the same, exciting stuff!!

[hmfc1984]

Seen this by some random poster on twitter. Any truth to this is not being able to spend in January. Can't understand that. 

[Farmer1]

3 hours ago, Captain Sausage said:

Did anyone else here McInnes say we have ‘one or two more already coming in January’ during his post match with the bbc?

 

Chesnekov and Kenzebekh???

Also heard this, would be fantastic 

[Absolute Scenes]

1 hour ago, hmfc1984 said:

Seen this by some random poster on twitter. Any truth to this is not being able to spend in January. Can't understand that. 

No this imbecile has read something and has created a narrative in his tiny brain. Tony Bloom is not allowed to invest any more money, due to UEFA rules. We can still spend what we want, though we won’t need to

[hmfc1984]

14 minutes ago, Absolute Scenes said:

No this imbecile has read something and has created a narrative in his tiny brain. Tony Bloom is not allowed to invest any more money, due to UEFA rules. We can still spend what we want, though we won’t need to

Did think it was a load of shite

[Pingu]

Del's "one or two things" comment is quite exciting, isn't it? 

 

Apart from Chesnokov, Kenzhebek is the only name we've been linked with. But if that was a done deal, I can't think why it wouldn't have been announced or at least reported more widely. On the other hand, I haven't seen reports of him going anywhere else.

 

Positionally, another right back would make sense. 

 

In a very positive way, it's a tricky window for us! We've got a big squad performing at a good level. I'm sure JTA can find players of a similar standard but (right back aside) can we sign anyone significantly better than what we have without spending cash we don't have yet?!

[Threedoorsdown]

We will go as big as we can again in January. The more outgoings the better for us.

[Mikey1874]

19 hours ago, Captain Sausage said:

Did anyone else here McInnes say we have ‘one or two more already coming in January’ during his post match with the bbc?

 

Chesnekov and Kenzebekh???

 

I think that's Chesnokov plus 1 or 2 more. 

 

But could well be more.

Edited October 27, 2025 by Mikey1874

[Dick Dastardly]

2 hours ago, Pingu said:

Del's "one or two things" comment is quite exciting, isn't it? 

 

Apart from Chesnokov, Kenzhebek is the only name we've been linked with. But if that was a done deal, I can't think why it wouldn't have been announced or at least reported more widely. On the other hand, I haven't seen reports of him going anywhere else.

 

Positionally, another right back would make sense. 

 

In a very positive way, it's a tricky window for us! We've got a big squad performing at a good level. I'm sure JTA can find players of a similar standard but (right back aside) can we sign anyone significantly better than what we have without spending cash we don't have yet?!

We must have money still available,  no?

[RustyRightPeg]

6 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

We must have money still available,  no?

That much is obvious. But you don’t spend if you don’t need to. There’s no glaring holes in the squad at the moment that won’t be rectified by 01/01/26. 

[Pingu]

9 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

We must have money still available,  no?

Some money, of course, but to sign players significantly better than what we have right now, in January, might require very large fees!

[Ibrahim Tall]

5 minutes ago, Pingu said:

Some money, of course, but to sign players significantly better than what we have right now, in January, might require very large fees!

Tbh while generally true it depends as much on the market we’re buying from. The main reason for inflated fees is it’s mid season and other teams not wanting to wreck their teams. But that’s also the exact reason we couldn’t get Chesnekov in August. 

[Dick Dastardly]

46 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

That much is obvious. But you don’t spend if you don’t need to. There’s no glaring holes in the squad at the moment that won’t be rectified by 01/01/26. 

I didn't suggest we needed to spend.

[Dick Dastardly]

44 minutes ago, Pingu said:

Some money, of course, but to sign players significantly better than what we have right now, in January, might require very large fees!

Or, with Jamestown, we might only need to spend a few hundred thousand.  Who knows 🤷‍♂️ 

[jamboinglasgow]

8 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

Or, with Jamestown, we might only need to spend a few hundred thousand.  Who knows 🤷‍♂️ 

 

Yup

 

Plus there is a good amount of leagues where players are going to be out of contract between now and the end of 2025 (hence us getting Chesnokov for free) so we could still still sign a player who is significantly better and not have to pay any transfer fees.

[Babertonhearts]

Think we need to calm down and wait and see what materializes, a lot can change.

Am just hoping Norwegian right back gets a few games to see if he is up to it. If not we need one in.

[Dick Dastardly]

12 minutes ago, jamboinglasgow said:

 

Yup

 

Plus there is a good amount of leagues where players are going to be out of contract between now and the end of 2025 (hence us getting Chesnokov for free) so we could still still sign a player who is significantly better and not have to pay any transfer fees.

Good point 

[Lovecraft]

18 hours ago, Absolute Scenes said:

No this imbecile has read something and has created a narrative in his tiny brain. Tony Bloom is not allowed to invest any more money, due to UEFA rules. We can still spend what we want, though we won’t need to

Yup.

 

Last year was the first time we reported losses for years.  £1.2M

 

Even if we posted losses again this year, it wouldn't mean anything for FFP.

 

 

[All roads lead to Gorgie]

I think we will see one other significant signing on top of Chesnokov and maybe a couple of future project players who will be up and ready for next season. Pre-contracts would not be a surprise either. Just a guess though and it might just be Chesnokov alone. Hopefully we will try to offload a few fringe first teamers who have been around a while and are dropping down the pecking order now. Finding a loan option for Wilson would benefit both parties.

[RustyRightPeg]

One player who intrigues me and I’m surprised they got him back, is Luca Stephenson at Dundee Utd. He’s playing wing back for them but can also play CM. Played a lot for Liverpool in pre season. 
 

Thought he was destined for a Beck style loan into the Championship down south. 

Probably not one we’ll ever get, but certainly a player I’d love. 

[rudi must stay]

2 hours ago, RustyRightPeg said:

One player who intrigues me and I’m surprised they got him back, is Luca Stephenson at Dundee Utd. He’s playing wing back for them but can also play CM. Played a lot for Liverpool in pre season. 
 

Thought he was destined for a Beck style loan into the Championship down south. 

Probably not one we’ll ever get, but certainly a player I’d love. 

 

Bring him in mate

[pettigrewsstylist]

On 27/10/2025 at 13:11, Babertonhearts said:

Think we need to calm down and wait and see what materializes, a lot can change.

Am just hoping Norwegian right back gets a few games to see if he is up to it. If not we need one in.

Think its clear he aint cutting it tbh 

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

Be interesting to see if there any sales this winter, couple of surprising quick profits last winter. Not anything to worry about, how JTA roll, the superior replacement ready and strategy aligned with DMc

[RustyRightPeg]

12 minutes ago, pettigrewsstylist said:

Think its clear he aint cutting it tbh 

How’s it clear? We kept 4 clean sheets in a row prior to Sunday. Why would you change that?

[JimmyCant]

13 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

How’s it clear? We kept 4 clean sheets in a row prior to Sunday. Why would you change that?

Correct

 

It’s surely clear now that McInnes favours minimal change whilst we’re going so well. We’ll be unchanged tonight again unless someone has a niggle we can’t risk or their levels aren’t back up

 

Guys like Kabore Ageu Kerjota Magnussen will just need to wait until there is a slot and then take their chance with both hands

 

Borchgrevink is a strange one for me though all the same. Been fit for 2 weeks but hasn’t appeared on the bench and in the meantime we’re still playing McEntee at RB. Got to be something up there we’re not being told about

[jamboinglasgow]

4 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

Correct

 

It’s surely clear now that McInnes favours minimal change whilst we’re going so well. We’ll be unchanged tonight again unless someone has a niggle we can’t risk or their levels aren’t back up

 

Guys like Kabore Ageu Kerjota Magnussen will just need to wait until there is a slot and then take their chance with both hands

 

Borchgrevink is a strange one for me though all the same. Been fit for 2 weeks but hasn’t appeared on the bench and in the meantime we’re still playing McEntee at RB. Got to be something up there we’re not being told about

 

I dont think it is strange, McEntee has locked down RB so as you say why change something that is working at the moment. Borch is not on the bench as McInnes wants versatile players on the pitch, so Steinwender can play CB and RB so he is there at the moment. Borch will get his time.

[Dick Dastardly]

1 hour ago, pettigrewsstylist said:

Think its clear he aint cutting it tbh 

I'm not sure about that. There has been no need to change our team since he has been back from injury. He'll get some games soon, i would think.

[NextGenerationJambo]

1 hour ago, pettigrewsstylist said:

Think its clear he aint cutting it tbh 

 

As clear as mud.

[south morocco]

1 hour ago, JimmyCant said:

Correct

 

It’s surely clear now that McInnes favours minimal change whilst we’re going so well. We’ll be unchanged tonight again unless someone has a niggle we can’t risk or their levels aren’t back up

 

Guys like Kabore Ageu Kerjota Magnussen will just need to wait until there is a slot and then take their chance with both hands

 

Borchgrevink is a strange one for me though all the same. Been fit for 2 weeks but hasn’t appeared on the bench and in the meantime we’re still playing McEntee at RB. Got to be something up there we’re not being told about

Was a critchley signing though. Might not be what DMc wants in a RB

[PHSCAndy]

1 hour ago, JimmyCant said:

Correct

 

It’s surely clear now that McInnes favours minimal change whilst we’re going so well. We’ll be unchanged tonight again unless someone has a niggle we can’t risk or their levels aren’t back up

 

Guys like Kabore Ageu Kerjota Magnussen will just need to wait until there is a slot and then take their chance with both hands

 

Borchgrevink is a strange one for me though all the same. Been fit for 2 weeks but hasn’t appeared on the bench and in the meantime we’re still playing McEntee at RB. Got to be something up there we’re not being told about

I’m not ITK but it could be that Borchgrevink isn’t perhaps training as hard as McInnes as is expected?
McInnes has gone on record quite a few times recently saying that he likes the training sessions to be real workouts for his players. 
Just a thought. 😬

[JimmyCant]

48 minutes ago, jamboinglasgow said:

 

I dont think it is strange, McEntee has locked down RB so as you say why change something that is working at the moment. Borch is not on the bench as McInnes wants versatile players on the pitch, so Steinwender can play CB and RB so he is there at the moment. Borch will get his time.

My answer would probably be that we’re seeking to improve the team out of all recognition in the next period. To me that means as many players on the pitch as possible with as few shortcomings as possible. 
 

Yes its fine just now, better than fine in fact but going forward we’ll need a bit

more ‘class’ in certain areas like full back and CM

 

Mcentee is a makeshift RB. No getting away from that and if Borch isn’t the main man for some reason then we need another option there at the top of the priority list

[JimmyCant]

22 minutes ago, south morocco said:

Was a critchley signing though. Might not be what DMc wants in a RB

He was a JTA signing though, albeit a done deal before McInnes showed up. So yeh, maybe Del doesn’t fancy him or he’s not working hard enough at Riccarton. No danger a training shirker is getting anywhere near this team under McInnes

Edited October 29, 2025 by JimmyCant

[jamboinglasgow]

3 minutes ago, JimmyCant said:

He was a JTA signing though, albeit a done deal before McInnes showed up. So yeh, maybe Del doesn’t fancy him or he’s not working hard enough at Riccarton

 

But McInnes played him in all the games he was fit for prior to the injury. I think people are reading too much into things. McEntee is a makeshift RB but we are doing well there at the moment, so why change at the moment. 

[JimmyCant]

1 minute ago, jamboinglasgow said:

 

But McInnes played him in all the games he was fit for prior to the injury. I think people are reading too much into things. McEntee is a makeshift RB but we are doing well there at the moment, so why change at the moment. 

You change if you’ve got a better option fit and ready that improves the team. I’m all for a settled line up etc but let’s not be daft about it

[RustyRightPeg]

28 minutes ago, jamboinglasgow said:

 

But McInnes played him in all the games he was fit for prior to the injury. I think people are reading too much into things. McEntee is a makeshift RB but we are doing well there at the moment, so why change at the moment. 

McEntee is at the point now where he shouldn’t be called make shift. He’s been part of a back 4 that has conceded 1 goal in 450 minutes of football. 
 

Borchgrevink isn’t getting into the team because the defence has been rock solid. 
 

The same way Kabore wasn’t getting into squads until before the Killie game because the front guys were scoring freely. In fairness they still are, but Wilson’s dropped out. 
 

Not everything needs to be a negative or controversial. 

[Gordons left glove]

Won't let me upload the screen shot but Watford apparently amongst a few English championship clubs wanting halkett. Apparently there were Watford scouts in the stands when we beat celtic

[JimmyCant]

8 minutes ago, Gordons left glove said:

Won't let me upload the screen shot but Watford apparently amongst a few English championship clubs wanting halkett. Apparently there were Watford scouts in the stands when we beat celtic

Yeh but they only want him on a free. I think we’ll definitely extend him. Having said that, he might not be a starter next season so who knows. He might decide to take a bigger contract somewhere else for his last gig