A host of Hearts players will be out of contract at the end of this season.
Many of them are experienced professionals who are, or have been at some point, key members of the Tynecastle first-team squad.
Those include goalkeeping pair Craig Gordon and Zander Clark and Hearts manager Neil Critchley was yesterday quoted speaking about their futures.
Others coming to the end of their deals include a duo who have had very little action to speak of, Liam Boyce and Barrie McKay.
There is also Lawrence Shankland, who Hearts have been told they are “mental” not to have an offer on the table for.
Critchley on Hearts contracts
Critchley was non-committal on what the future might hold for Gordon and Clark and is pretty much the same on the rest.
Some of them will not be offered deals though and the manager admits tough conversations will need to be had in the not too distant future.
For now though, the focus is on getting the best of of individuals and the team as a collective.
The former Liverpool coach said: “That’s different for every individual and we also have to be mindful that they’re contracted to play and contribute for Hearts.
“That’s what they get paid to do so we have to protect ourselves. We also think that, if we know and it’s right for that individual, then at some point you sit down and you have those conversations face-to-face and explain reasoning for the decisions that you make.
“At this moment in time, we’re in a busy period of fixtures and honestly, it sounds boring, it’s a cliché but I just look at how do we try to win each game. Everything else is further down the line at this moment in time.”
Shankland has previously been offered a deal which went unsigned and the club have hinted that, while the offer is no longer there, they would be willing to return to talks.
Critchley added: “That’s obviously between Lawrence and the club. Everyone’s fully aware that his contract’s running down and he’ll be out of contract in the summer.
“I know there were talks prior to me being here but obviously I’ve just been concentrating on trying to help Lawrence to find his form of the last couple of seasons.
“That’s my main focus at the moment and he’s the captain of the team. Up to the penalty area, he’s been playing very well and contributing, he’s just missed that final little bit.
“I think it’s gone on slightly longer this year but he hasn’t scored many goals at a similar period of last season where he’s at now.
“So I’m hoping that, when he hits the back of the net, he’ll go on a run and he can have a really strong second half of the season.”
Who is likely to get a new Hearts deal?
One would assume Hearts will try to keep one of Gordon or Clark rather than have to recruit a whole new goalkeeping department.
They would of course love to keep Shankland and it will be interesting to see how that one plays out, while youngsters James Wilson and Adam Forrester will surely be offered deals.
Jorge Grant is another interesting one. At 29, he is not starting games and a move back down to England could be possible.
It would be expected that Boyce and McKay will move on as they don’t appear to feature in Critchley’s plans.