Beni Baningime looks set to become Hearts ’ fourth summer signing of the season.
The Everton midfielder trained with the Jambos this morning and Robbie Neilson is hopeful of getting a deal done at some point today, if not tomorrow.
And there’s a chance the 22-year-old could make the squad for Saturday’s Premiership opener against Celtic if everything goes to plan.
But what exactly are Hearts getting in the Toffees’ former Under 23 captain?
Edinburgh Live spoke to Phil Kirkbride, Everton writer at the Liverpool Echo, to get the inside track on the imminent arrival at Tynecastle.
What type of player is he?
Beni's strengths are his defensive work in midfield. He gets about the middle of the pitch really well and, more often than not, uses the ball correctly when he wins it back. Bags of energy, great attitude and just in need of consistency in his career now which, hopefully, he'll find at Hearts.
How highly was he rated at Everton?
Beni is rated very highly by his Academy coaches at Everton, especially David Unsworth. Indeed, it was Unsworth who gave him his senior debut when he took over as caretaker manager in late 2017.
Beni would play under Sam Allardyce later in that season, but it was Unsy who gave him his breakthrough.
Why didn't it happen for him Goodison?
Sadly, he's been unable to kick on. Everton have had a revolving door of managers since then so that often doesn't help a young player, hoping to get more of a chance, but he's also been hampered by some injuries. His loans to Wigan and Derby didn't really ignite, it is fair to say.
It left Beni in that awkward position where he returned to play for the club's under-23s - often captaining the side - but was comfortably too good for the level but, at the same time, not able to break back into the first-team picture.
The club have been prepared to let him go for over a season now but it's not been an easy task. A mixture of Beni's desire to stick it out at Everton for as long as possible, believing he could and would get his chance, and a tough marketplace, means he's still at the club.
He came back to pre-season earlier this month and was part of the senior set-up under Rafa Benitez but was not included in the trip to the US.
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