Derek McInnes transfer talks revealed as Hearts line up next new signing after Marc Leonard
Hearts have been on the hunt for Laurent Mendy’s signature this winter window.
The Jambos are looking to improve their chances of winning the Scottish Premiership this season after a series of injuries to their star players caused a setback.
On Friday, it was reported that Marc Leonard was close to a move to Hearts, with the Birmingham City star heading to Edinburgh for a medical ahead of a loan move.
However, while Forest Green boss Robbie Savage has refused to sell Mendy this month, he admits that he and Derek McInnes have spoken about the midfielder’s future, with a sale in the summer not ruled out.
Robbie Savage refuses to rule out Laurent Mendy summer sale
With Hearts going for the Scottish Premiership title, the inability to sign Mendy this month will no doubt be a blow.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been one of the best players in the National League this campaign as Forest Green look to win promotion back to League Two.
However, after Hearts saw a bid rejected for Mendy in the week, Savage has since confirmed that he and McInnes have spoken.
When talking to Forest Green on 23 January, while the manager did state that a sale would not happen this month, he cannot rule out one in the future.
He said: “Right now for us, the offer for us to go and replace Mendy right now, if you are looking at young Premier League centre-halves at 21, some agents might think they do not want to go to the National League.
“Who is going to sell us a player now? We will go for a top player from a team challenging for promotion in any league. Are the centre-halves in our league as good as Mendy? Probably not.
“It is very difficult in a short space of time, when [the bid] came out of the blue for us to replace, which does not help Mendy.
“I am sure it might be revisited in the summer. I spoke to Derek McInnes for quite a while yesterday. He is a fantastic individual doing unbelievably well. I am sure it is not the last we have heard of it.”
Who else are Hearts looking to target?
With the signing of Leonard at Tynecastle set to go through baring any late hiccups, there is still time for McInnes to bring in more faces.
According to the Edinburgh Evening News on 21 January, Hearts are aiming to bring in another striker before the end of the window.
The injury to Lawerance Shankland has limited the power of the Edinburgh side’s strike force, with their captain set to be out of action for the foreseeable future.
However, few strikers have been linked to Tynecastle since the news, while new signing Rogers Mato appears to be unlikely to be available for the Celtic fixture.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if McInnes is able to bring in additional faces before the end of the transfer window.