One of the Premiership’s busiest teams during the January transfer window has been Hearts.
Elton Kabangu, a Union Saint-Gilloise loanee, and Jamie McCart, a Rotherham permanent addition, are the two new players the Jambos have signed thus far.
A fee for defender Michael Steinwender has also been agreed upon by Hearts and IFK Värnamo, however it has not yet been formally confirmed.
Additionally, it is well known that the Gorgie club is in negotiations with FC Tobol for their star player Islam Chesnokov as well as Danny Armstrong of Kilmarnock for a winger this month.
With the transfer deadline less than two weeks away, Tynecastle’s business is far from over, and CEO Andrew McKinlay has now confirmed this.
McKinlay, CEO of Hearts, on the January transfer window
In his most recent quarterly report, McKinlay spoke to Hearts supporters and, of course, mentioned the team’s recent hiring.
Supporters have expressed his desire to see two more new players before the current window ends, but he has also emphasised the necessity for Hearts to increase their list of departures.
While loanee Andres Salazar returned to Atletico Nacional, Liam Boyce went to Derry City. Another player who left permanently for DC United is Kye Rowles.
While there is ongoing conjecture around the futures of wingers Barrie McKay and Yutaro Oda, Cammy Devlin has been connected to both Portsmouth and New York City FC.
According to McKinlay, “I’m fairly confident we can expect more.” A few names—some correct, some incorrect—have been mentioned in the media. We might do one or two more in the window, I think.
Furthermore, any additional movement could be contingent on the opposite direction. But don’t be surprised if we do a few more.
I believe that we must acknowledge that we are carrying an excessively large squad, as I stated in the summer.
Additionally, the coach believes that we have an excessively large team. We still have too large a team because we have brought in two so far and sent out two.
Therefore, it would be wonderful if more people moved out. However, people are bound by their contracts and are not required to relocate.
We’ll simply have to wait and see how things work out. As I said, we will consider taking in a handful more even if we are unable to relocate others.
Transfers are already planned by Hearts for 2025–2026.
In addition to the work being done for the current season, McKinlay revealed that Hearts is already making plans for the January window of 2026 as well as the summer window.
The club’s recruitment department has prepared a list of possible additions for these two next windows, according to the CEO, with work continuously moving forward in the background.
“We’re already planning for the summer window,” McKinlay continued. I already know what we want to do in the summer, but we’re probably already planning for the January window of next year.
Additionally, lists of players in those positions that we are considering for the summer are already in place. It’s never exactly as simple as that may seem because some of that also relies on levers.
But we’re already working on offers for the summer. That simply goes on and will go on through this window and all the way to the summer window.
