Andrew McKinlay on how many more Hearts January signings he wants plus summer transfer plans

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Hearts have been one of the most active Premiership clubs in the January transfer window.

The Jambos have recruited two new players so far in the shape of Union Saint-Gilloise loanee Elton Kabangu and Jamie McCart, who joined permanently from Rotherham.

Hearts have also agreed a fee with IFK Värnamo for defender Michael Steinwender, although that one has yet to be officially confirmed.

Moreover, the Gorgie club want a winger this month and it is already common knowledge that they are in talks with both Kilmarnock’s Danny Armstrong and FC Tobol for their star man Islam Chesnokov.

Business at Tynecastle is far from over with the transfer deadline less than two weeks away – and that fact has now been rubber-stamped by CEO Andrew McKinlay.

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Hearts CEO McKinlay on January transfer window

McKinlay has addressed Hearts fans with his latest quarterly update and of course, he has touched on the club’s recent recruitment.

He has told supporters that he’d like to see two more new faces before the current window closes, but also stressed the need for Hearts to add to their departures list.

Liam Boyce left for Derry City while loanee Andres Salazar returned to Atletico Nacional. Kye Rowles is another who has left permanently for DC United.

Cammy Devlin has been linked with Portsmouth and New York City FC, while speculation persists over the futures of wingers Barrie McKay and Yutaro Oda.

McKinlay has said: “I’m pretty confident we can expect more. There’s been a few names mentioned in the media, some right, some not right. I’m expecting us to do maybe one or two more in the window.

“And again, any more than that may depend on movement the other way. But certainly expect us to do a couple more.

“I think we do have to be cognisant of the fact that, and I’ve said this back in the summer, that we are carrying too big a squad.

“And the coach’s view is we’re carrying too big a squad. So far, we’ve brought in two and two have gone out, so we’re still carrying too big a squad.

“So ideally, we would like more to move out. But people are under contract, they don’t have to move anywhere.

“So we’ll just see how that all pans out. As I say, even if we don’t get to move others, we will look at bringing a couple more in.”

Hearts already planning transfers for 2025/26

In addition to the work that is being carried out for the current season, McKinlay has shared that Hearts are already planning for not just the summer window, but the 2026 January window too.

The CEO has revealed the club’s recruitment department have complied a list of potential signings for these two upcoming windows with work always progressing in the background.

McKinlay added: “We’re already planning for the summer window. In fact, we’re probably already planning for next January window, but I already know what we’re looking to do in the summer.

“And we already have lists of players in those positions that we’re looking at for the summer. Now, part of that depends on levers as well, so it’s never quite as straightforward as that might sound.

“But we’re already working on summer deals as well. So that just continues and will continue right through this window and right up to the summer window.