Blackburn Rovers have opened pre-contract discussions to snap up Hearts star John Souttar on a free transfer.
The English Championship side want both Souttar and Aberdeen midfielder Ryan Hedges to join their ranks next summer.
Hearts are increasingly resigned to losing the Scotland international despite offering him a new deal.
Stoke City and Nottingham Forest are also keen on the 25-year-old, while Celtic and Rangers have been linked.
The Premiership champions were keen under Steven Gerrard and it is believed that new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst hasn’t closed the door either.
Blackburn are ready to offer Souttar a significant lift on the money he is currently on at Hearts and believe they have a good chance of landing him at Blackburn.
Stoke City boss Michael O’Neill was up to watch him earlier this month and is also interested in teaming him up with his brother, Harry, at the Potteries.
The Jambos have also made it clear that they would only consider selling in this window if it was a significant offer.
Blackburn are working to tight financial constraints and both moves would be for the summer unless Tony Mowbray sold some of his first-team in the upcoming window.
They bid £400,000 for Hedges in the last window but Aberdeen turned that down.
Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass has already all but admitted defeat in their bid to keep Hedges - who has not signed a new, improved Pittodrie deal.
Blackburn and Cardiff are also interested but Blackburn looks the most likely destination for Hedges, as it stands.
Meanwhile, Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is more interested in signing than selling in the January window.
He has already signed Australian defender Nathaniel Atkinson from Melbourne City.
The Jambos are also keen on a move for Japanese forward Tsuyoshi Ogashiwa.
The capital club is in talks with Consadole Sapporo to see if a deal can be agreed for the 23-year-old.
Those negotiations are still on-going and as of yet no deal has been agreed.
Hearts sporting director Joe Savage is also working on other live options for the forward areas, outside of Ogashiwa.
