Hearts have stepped up their efforts to bring Kosovan international Donis Avdijaj to Tynecastle.
The club had entered initial talks with Turkish club Trabzonspor, but the chances of getting their man increased after the forward’s contract was terminated.
That would leave him free to join the Jambos this month rather than in the summer when his contract was due to end.
It’s understood Hearts are working to get a deal over the line as soon as possible now that the 23-year-old is a free agent.
The former Schalke player was highly rated at the Gelsenkirchen club before loan spells with Roda JC in Holland and Sturm Graz in Belgium.
He spent the 2018/19 season with Dutch side Willem II but a failure to get himself fit enough to play for a number of months resulted in the Eredivise side terminating his contract.
Avddijaj made the move to Turkey last summer, initially until the end of the season with the option of an additional three years should things go well.
However, the Turkish Super Lig side have opted to let the German youth international pursue other options after just six months.
Hearts boss Daniel Stendel is keen to bolster his attacking options so that the club can fire themselves off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table.
A lack of goals has harmed the Jambos, who take on Airdrie in the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup this weekend.
