Hearts are racing against time to secure a visa for Iceland-born midfielder Tomas Bent Magnusson.
Reports indicate that the 22-year-old has arrived in Scotland’s Capital and that a five-figure transfer fee has been agreed.
The Gorgie club also await confirmation on a work permit for Pierre Landry Kabore, a Burkino Faso international who is moving from an Estonian club.
Frustrated Derek McInnes (pictured in the Gorgie dugout), Hearts’ head coach, said the club have done everything possible to fast-track the permit application.
Now, all the Tynecastle staff can do is wait on the rubber stamp from the Home Office for the players.
Kabore has been in Edinburgh for several weeks and McInnes indicated: “I feel for him as you come in bursting to get going.”
If the paper work comes through for both newcomers then Hearts will have signed nine new players before the big kick-off this weekend.
Of course, Hearts don’t start their William Hill Premiership campaign until Monday at Tynecastle when Aberdeen, once managed by McInnes, are the visitors. Kick-off is 20.00 and the match is live on Sky Sports.
Hearts, undoubtedly, go into the game with a positive frame of mind following last Saturday’s home win over Sunderland who are now back in the English Premiership.
The win followed an unblemished record in four Premier Sports Cup, Group E, stages, 16 goals for, one against, for a full house of 12 points plus a confidence-boosting 3-0 success over Sunderland in the Craig Gordon Testimonial.
And McInnes, eyeing the mouth-watering Aberdeen fixture, declared: “We will do whatever we need to do to win the game.”
