Hearts have offered Andy Irving a new deal and the player has responded with a counter offer as the two parties try to thrash out his Tynecastle future.
Stephen Kingsley was the latest to commit to the Championship leaders beyond the summer after Michael Smith did the same earlier in this month.
Promising midfielder Irving has been in fine form and smashed in a stunning opener in last weekend’s 3-1 win at Alloa.
Fans have been clamouring for the club to tie him down and boss Robbie Neilson is hopeful an agreement isn’t too far away.
He confirmed: “We’ve offered Andy a contract. He’s come back, there’s been a counter offer so we’ll go back again.
“We’d like to try to get that over the line. We’ve been talking for a number of weeks. Andy has been playing very well for us and we’d like to try and get him here for as long as possible.”
Discussions have also started with on-loan Preston winger Josh Ginnelly with the view to signing him on a pre-contract, although they are still at an early stage.
Neilson said: “We’ve just started speaking to his agent. We’ll keep talking to try and get things moving.
“He’s got blistering pace which a lot of teams in Scotland can’t handle.
“Over the last 18 months he has struggled with niggling injuries. We believe with the sports science and medical staff here we can give him the best chance to play every week. We just want to get him on the pitch on a Saturday now.
“He is enjoying his time at the club and he likes it here. He likes the stadium and the training facilities. He hasn’t experienced a full Tynecastle yet, which he is desperate to do.
“Both parties are keen to get something done so I don’t see there being too many issues on it.”
Neilson wasn’t quite as forthcoming on attempts to sign Walsall’s striker Elijah Adebayo.
Reports emerged yesterday that Hearts had had an approach for the 6ft 4in star rejected by the Saddlers, although he is available to talk about a pre-contract.
Neilson said: “I don’t want to speak about players under contract.
“But we do have a lot of players and a profile of the striker we are looking to bring into the club.
“We have one or two targets who fit the profile and we will keep working on that to try and get it over the line.
“It has to be the right one. We just don’t want to bring someone in just to be part of the squad.”
There was mixed news on the injury front ahead of Hearts' league clash with Raith Rovers on Saturday.
Defender John Souttar is set to take another step forward on his journey back to action but versatile midfielder Jamie Brandon won’t be seen again this season.
Neilson explained: “John is back running now and hopefully next week he can do some ball work.
“Unfortunately we have lost Jamie. A fortnight ago he picked up a bad knee injury and will be out for the season.
“He has ruptured his cruciate which is a terrible blow for the kid.
“He twisted his knee in a bounce game and will be operated on next week.”
