The transfer message from Robbie Neilson has been a consistent one: We’re waiting.
The Hearts boss was hopeful of final decisions from a couple of targets last week but progress has been slow on that front.
So far, only three additions have been made to the squad ahead of their Premiership return, and two of those were there last season.
Ross Stewart was a low-risk back up option for Craig Gordon after coming in on loan from Livingston and making it permanent was straight forward.
Josh Ginnelly’s fitness issues meant he wasn't seen as much in maroon as wa shoped last season, but he still had a big impact and his capture on a two-year deal once his Preston North End contract expired was a popular move.
Alex Cochrane remains something of an unknown. The England Under 20 international’s signing was announced out of the blue with not much known about the 21-year-old.
After a couple of friendly and league cup appearances, it’s clear he’s comfortable down the left-hand side and allows Neilson to deploy his new 3-4-3 formation.
But why have the trio been it so far this summer?
Neilson is asked every time he speaks to the media what the transfer state of play and his response today was along the same lines as every other one.
“We’re still working away,” he said. “We know we need to bring a few in, I think that’s evident. We know we need to continue to improve the squad because we’re going from the Championship into the Premiership and we’ve only brought in one player and re-signed a couple.
“So it’s important that we keep developing the team.
“With most teams in Scotland and the UK, it’s quiet at the moment. There’s not a lot of movement in the transfer market.
“From our perspective, I think we’ve got a good squad; one that's good enough to compete. But we want to have a squad with a few that allows us to compete at a higher level.”
It's not the first time Neilson has referenced the English market in his replies and it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out that’s where Hearts are likely to be focusing their efforts.
Ginnelly and Cochrane’s arrivals were enough of a clue, and Joe Savage ’s contacts down south are a major reason he was brought in as sporting director.
Neilson’s time down there with MK Dons expanded his network of contacts and he’s filed away names of players he came up against for times such as these. Ginnelly being a prime example.
Clubs south of the border have mostly kicked-off their pre-season friendlies and the market will start to get busier.
When they have a better idea of who they want to keep and more importantly from a Hearts point of view, negotiations should become easier and more new faces should start arriving.
That may or may not be in time for the opening game of the season against Celtic, but such an early start makes it almost impossible (not to mention needlessly restrictive) for any Scottish club to have all their business done in time for the big kick-off.
While it may have been a slow summer so far, patience could end up being a virtue in Gorgie.
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