Hearts are in negotiations over a move for Japanese forward Tsuyoshi Ogashiwa.
Boss Robbie Neilson admitted earlier this month that he was looking to add in the striking positions.
And the 23 year-old is on his January wish list.
Injury to Liam Boyce has left the Jambos short up top and Armand Gnanduillet could be on his way out after not featuring in the two matches Boyce has missed.
Quoted figures of £650,000 for Ogashiwa are thought to be wide of the mark, but negotiations are underway with the J-League outfit although Football Scotland reports a bid is yet to be accepted.
Ogashiwa's countryman, Kyogo Furuhashi, has caught the imagination of Celtic supporters with 16 goals this season, following his summer arrival from Vissel Kobe.
Hearts could be about to follow suit by entering the same market, but a work permit would be required.
While Ogashiwa, who has yet to be capped by Japan but has been called up to the squad, may not initially meet the criteria for one, he could be allowed to sign via the Exceptions Panel granting a Governing Body Endorsement for the player.
It's a path which has been well trodden by Scottish football clubs in the past.
Of course, Hearts have had a Japanese player on their books before, having signed Ryotaro Meshino on loan from Manchester City just over two years ago.
Despite a bright start in Meshino, he fell out of favour at the club under Daniel Stendel.
Just over a week ago, current boss Neilson said a striker was at the top of his wish list.
"Preferably one that scores goals but they are the hardest to get in January," he clarified.
"We’ve got a couple of strikers here at the moment but we’re trying to get something that gives us a different option.
"We’re not going to make a lot of changes to the squad, it will be one or two.
"We’ve got an idea about who’ll come in and go out.
"It’s about getting the deals done but I don’t think we’ll be running around at the last minute trying to bring three or four players in."
