Up to Hearts to find deal for Mendy, says Vrancken - gossippublished at 08:38 BST 16 July
08:38 BST 16 July
Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken says it is up to the Tynecastle club to find a deal for Forest Green Rovers midfielder Laurent Mendy, 29, and says goalkeeper Liam McFarlane, 21, will go out on loan again. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)
Vrancken's backroom team boosted by new set-piece coachpublished at 14:00 BST 14 July
14:00 BST 14 July
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Wouter Vrancken's backroom team will soon include a set-piece coach
Liam Ross will leave Southampton to become Hearts' new set-piece specialist.
The Tynecastle club say the former Dundee United and Rangers youth coach has "vast experience on both sides of the border in on-pitch delivery".
He will replace Ross Grant, who left to join Celtic after making a significant impact during his 12 months in Gorgie.
Hearts confirm Ross will start his new role in Wouter Vrancken's backroom team next week when he leaves his position as Southampton's individual development coach.
Forest Green tell Hearts Mendy is not for sale - gossippublished at 07:48 BST 14 July
07:48 BST 14 July
Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage says Hearts have made contact about Laurent Mendy but have been told the 29-year-old midfielder is not for sale. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)
Ipswich Town will not be making a move for Claudio Braga despite speculation linking the club promoted to the Premier League with the 26-year-old Hearts forward. (Daily Record, external)
Bournemouth are eyeing a move to sign Hearts and Scotland Under-16s goalkeeper Finlay Jamieson. (Football Insider, external)
Forrest joins 'good fit' Dundee on initial two-year dealpublished at 21:15 BST 13 July
21:15 BST 13 July
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Alan Forrest regards Dundee as "a good fit" after signing up at Dens Park on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.
The winger, 29, was a free agent after leaving Hearts. He made 142 appearances over four years at Tynecastle, scoring 14 times.
Manager Steven Pressley told Dundee's website: "We've been monitoring Alan's situation for a while and it's excellent to be able to bring him to Dundee.
"He has all the attributes we were looking for in his position, like his one-to-one ability, delivery of crosses and ball carrying and he is very hard working against the ball.
"Alan is someone who knows the Scottish game very well. He's performed well at this level for a number of years and we believe he still has a lot to give."
Before joining Hearts, Forrest turned out for Ayr United and Livingston, playing more than 200 times for the former.
And he said: "As soon as Dundee were interested, I thought it was a good fit for me.
"The way they played last year, they were a match for any team in the league so I'm looking forward to getting started.
"Whether it's helping off the ball or creating and scoring goals, I want to affect games as much as I can."
No offers for Hearts' Braga, says Vrancken - gossippublished at 08:59 BST 12 July
08:59 BST 12 July
Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken says there have been no concrete offers for Claudio Braga despite reported interest in the 26-year-old forward. (National - subscription required, external)
Hearts not short of leaders, insists boss Vranckenpublished at 15:23 BST 11 July
15:23 BST 11 July
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Hearts may have lost Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin to Rangers, but new head coach Wouter Vrancken is sure his squad is still full of leaders.
Shankland had been the captain at Tynecastle, while vice-captain Craig Halkett is not expected to play before 2027 as he recovers from injury.
Experienced duo Frankie Kent and Beni Baningime have also moved on, but Vrancken, who arrived from Sint-Truiden last month, is not worried.
"With Halkett, with Stephen Kingsley, Jamie McCart, Stuart Findlay, Harry Milne, we have a lot of personalities in the group, so the number of leaders is not a problem," he said.
"Of course, we have lost the total central spine of the team, so we have to look to make sure we are strong again. But the guys are pushing really hard and that's nice to work with.
"Most important for me is that the leaders take the responsibility. We don't have officially a captain yet. We have also Craig (Halkett) who is still out until the end of the year. He is also a potential captain, so I'm not concerned about those things."
Hearts have made seven signings this summer but Vrancken is now seeking a deep-lying midfielder fill the void left by the influential Devlin.
"It's difficult to say now because we have already a big group of players, a lot of players now," Vrancken said when asked how many new recruits he needs.
"We have to see that the group is not too big, but we need some quality."
Striker Claudio Braga has been linked with Lyon and Ipswich Town in recent weeks although Vrancken said: "What I've heard is nothing on the table, nothing concrete yet.
"I have an open and honest communication and relationship with Claudio about those things, so, nothing (to report) at the moment."
Renaud scores as Hearts lose to Livingstonpublished at 22:04 BST 10 July
22:04 BST 10 July
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Tom Renaud brought Hearts back into the contest
New signing Tom Renaud scored as Hearts lost 2-1 to hosts Livingston in Friday evening's pre-season game.
All of the goals came in the first half of the match, which was a testimonial for long-serving Livi midfielder Scott Pittman.
Renaud struck for the visitors after Cammy Palmer and Tyrese Sinclair had headed goals for the hosts.
Harry Milne captained Wouter Vrancken's side, with summer recruits MJ Kamson-Kamara, Rogers Mato, Josh McPake and Calvin Miller all starting.
Teenage signing Cormac Daly was among a raft of substitutes that came on for the final 19 minutes, with Zander Clark taking over from Ryan Fulton in goal at half-time.
Forward Elton Kabangu and midfielder Sander Kartum also played the second half.
Both Clark and Kartum were loaned out by Hearts last season.
Hearts confirm Devlin departure as signing deadline passespublished at 12:44 BST 10 July
12:44 BST 10 July
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Cammy Devlin scored eight goals during his five seasons at Tynecastle
Cammy Devlin is leaving Hearts as a free agent after failing to agree new terms.
The Australia midfielder, 28, moved to Tynecastle in August 2021 and made 176 appearances for the Edinburgh club.
He was a key player last season as Hearts pushed champions Celtic all the way in a title-race that was settled on the final day.
"Heart of Midlothian can confirm that Cammy Devlin will not be returning to the club," read a social media statement.
"Cammy was given a deadline by the club to commit to taking up the offer of a new deal, which he has failed to meet, and therefore leaves under freedom of contract."
Sydney-born Devlin was at the World Cup with Australia but did not feature in any of their four matches in Canada and the United States.
Devlin has 'positive talks' with Hearts - gossippublished at 08:04 BST 10 July
08:04 BST 10 July
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Cammy Devlin has had positive talks with new Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken as the 28-year-old Australia midfielder weighs up accepting a new contract offer or moving on as a free agent. (Hearts Standard - subscription required, external)
Ipswich join chase for Hearts striker Braga - gossippublished at 08:58 BST 9 July
08:58 BST 9 July
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Ipswich Town and Trabzonspor have joined Lyon in expressing an interest in 26-year-old Heart of Midlothian forward Claudio Braga. (Record via Scottish Sun, external)
Hearts have rekindled their interest in Forest Green Rovers defender Laurent Mendy and made a new move after having a bid for the 29-year-old Frenchman rejected in the January transfer window. (Pete O'Rourke on X, external)
Three-legged Scottish title race again, predicts Brownpublished at 22:15 BST 8 July
22:15 BST 8 July
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Scott Brown (right) was playing the Scottish Open pro-am with Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ryan Christie
Scotland is in for another three-way title race this coming season, former Celtic captain Scott Brown has predicted.
Celtic retained the title on the final day of last season with a home win over Hearts to overtake the long-time leaders, with Rangers having slipped to third in the final weeks.
Since then, Hearts have lost head coach Derek McInnes to Rangers, replacing him with former Sint-Truiden boss Wouter Vrancken, while Celtic have given veteran Martin O'Neill the manager's job full-time after he did so well in interim charge.
"I think it's going to be a three-legged race yet again," Brown said, speaking at the Scottish Open golf pro-am.
"I think Hearts have been an actual delight for Scottish football. They've done really, really well. I thought Derek did a fantastic job and Martin's come in at the right point in time.
"If Martin was there for the whole time, Celtic win the league, nice and easy, but Del's went to Rangers now and he's a very, very good man-manager and he brings out the best of people.
"Looking at what he does and how he deals with his team, he'll bring in some more Scottish people, English-based people, that understand the club and the culture as well, which, to be fair, I think Celtic's done really well over the years."
Meanwhile, Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken wants talks over Australia midfielder Cammy Devlin, the 28-year-old who is out of contract after five years at Tynecastle. (Record, external)
Guendouz reveals he rejects top clubs for Hearts move - gossippublished at 11:12 BST 4 July
11:12 BST 4 July
Heart of Midlothian forward Sabri Guendouz says he rejected AZ Alkmaar, plus clubs in Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Belgium to sign for the Scottish Premiership club. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)
Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign centre-back Alfie Osborne from Hearts, with the 17-year-old signing a long-term contract amid offers from clubs across Europe. (Fabrizio Romano on X, external)
Hearts will receive a six-figure compensation fee from Chelseafor 17-year-old defender Alfie Osborne. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)
Vrancken reveals Devlin and Gordon wait - gossippublished at 07:42 BST 3 July
07:42 BST 3 July
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken plans talks with out-of-contract midfielder Cammy Devlin once the 28-year-old returns from World Cup duty with Australia amid interest from Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)
Hearts are still waiting to hear what out-of-contract Craig Gordon plans to do following his return from the World Cup with Scotland, with head coach Wouter Vrancken saying it is the 43-year-old goalkeeper's decision whether to carry on or retire. (Hearts Standard, external)
Lyon are monitoring Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti in addition to holding discussions with Hearts over forward Claudio Braga. (Foot Mercato, external)
New Hearts boss pleased with debut win amid 'learning process'published at 23:08 BST 1 July
23:08 BST 1 July
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New Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken was delighted with a "good win" in his first pre-season friendly in charge considering opponents St Mirren were more than a week further into their preparations for the new season.
The Belgian described the 3-1 victory at their training camp in Spain as a "learning process" for both himself and his new charges.
"I learned a lot because it's the first time I saw the guys playing and doing the things we want to see," Vrancken told Hearts TV.
"You can have as many training sessions as you want - you have to feel it on the pitch in a real game.
"Also knowing that St Mirren have been in sessions for two weeks while we are five days, so physically it makes a difference.
"I saw some good actions, some good plays, tried to play football that I want to see and try to find the spaces.
"They are still thinking too much because they have to be comfortable after doing it a few times.
"We have to find the real flow again, but it's still a good win.
"Friendly or no friendly, you always have to try to win the games.
"So it was one learning process in the game, but most important is the minutes in the legs, the intentions they have and the good spirits they showed."
