Your January 24 transfer window update from Not The Old Firm. We bring you news concerning Hearts, Hibs, Motherwell, St Johnstone, Falkirk and Livingston.
1 in and 1 out at Hearts
Hearts sanctioned two deals on Friday as they announced the £320k arrival of midfielder Sander Kartum from Norwegian side SK Brann.
Kartum has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year contract at Tynecastle and told Hearts TV: “I heard it was a big club with a lot of history.
“There are amazing fans too, so the opportunity to play here was big. I looked for the opportunity to play outside of Norway and I just decided that this is something I have to do.
“I feel every club I’ve been to has been a new challenge. I have grown a lot as a person and a player. From starting at Stjordals-Blink to finally being here, it’s just been big steps. I’ve been through a lot and I’m up for it.
“I like to be creative and score goals. I feel like the important thing is to fight for the team. When we played St Mirren (in the summer), it was quite an experience on the football side.
“Tynecastle is a very big stadium. I heard a lot of good things about it with the fans and the atmosphere so I’m looking forward to getting my first playing minutes here.”
The Jambos have also sent Macaulay Tait out on loan to Livingston until the end of the season.
Boss Neil Critchley, meanwhile, reckons there could be one or two more exits before deadline day as he aims to trim down his squad.
He told reporters: “Anything can happen in January, we’re still looking, we’re still searching. Obviously our squad now is slightly top-heavier numbers, although some players have also departed in January.
“So there might be one or two exits, but that might mean that one or two might arrive as well and it could be a busy last week.
“But we’re really happy with the work that we’ve done so far and the players that we’ve brought in.”
Motherwell add Luke Armstrong
Luke Armstrong has joined Motherwell on loan from Carlisle United until the end of the campaign.
Armstrong is the Steelmen’s third January addition after the captures of Coventry City’s Kai Andrews and ex-St Mirren stopper Ellery Balcombe.
The 28-year-old told the official Motherwell website: “I’m really excited to be here. The manager really sold me on his vision for the club and how I could fit into the system alongside the strikers already in the squad.
“There were other offers on the table, but I felt this one suited me and could get the best out of me as a player.
“I’m in the prime age of my career, and I felt that the challenge of the Scottish Premiership was one that I simply couldn’t miss out on.”
Jonathan Svedberg joins St Johnstone
St Johnstone have confirmed the free transfer of midfielder Jonathan Svedberg after he left Halmstads BK.
Svedberg has signed until 2026 and told the official St Johnstone website: “I am very excited to be here. I have met everybody and have received a warm welcome – I feel like I am in a good place.
“It is a good league, the intensity is higher and I think it will suit me. I feel I can bring a lot of experience. I have been playing high level football for a long time now.
“I am physical, go into duels and will be strong. But I like to be in control of positions too. The head coach (Simo Valakari) wants to have control of games and I like this football philosophy.”
Hibs boss David Gray’s transfer optimism
Hibs are still looking for their first signing of the January window, but boss David Gray is remaining positive deals can be sealed before the deadline.
He said: “The biggest challenge is to make sure when the window closes, that we’re in a stronger position than we were when the window opened, and I’m very confident that’ll be the case.”
John McGlynn on Falkirk’s Callumn Morrison
Lastly, Falkirk manager John McGlynn has addressed Callumn Morrison’s shock transfer request.
Asked initially if the Bairns will accept lowball offers for the winger, McGlynn told the Falkirk Herald: “Knowing our board of directors, no chance of that! Why would we take a low offer?
“What we don’t want to happen is for something to happen on the last day of the transfer window. That is what happened last year (with interest in Morrison) and we seem to be in this position at this time every year.
“I think he’ll still be here (beyond January) to be honest. That’s just my opinion. I don’t think anything will happen. Maybe I am being naive and his agent will have something sorted out. It would be difficult to get out just now.
“From my point of view, it is something I could have done without while so much is going on? Yeah it is, we have vital games coming up.
“You just have to accept it. When you’ve been in the game for so long, you just take it in your stride really, it wasn’t a big deal to me.
“The reaction will have been mixed I am sure – he has been great for the club and we have been great for him.
“Callum’s approached the club and said that he wanted to go on the transfer list. It is one of those – you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.
“We could have been awkward about it but we felt it was right to respect his wishes. What’s the point? Callumn is a valued member of our squad and we don’t want to lose him.
“But we took everything into consideration; sometimes it can go the other way if you say no. They might feel like they haven’t been allowed to go.
“There is no individual bigger than the football club. The football club has been very good with Callumn. He is a Falkirk player. As long as he is working hard and showing the right attitude then he is available for selection.
“I had a chat with him this morning (Thursday) to make sure of that and I didn’t see anything untoward. We’ll assess things as we go along.
“I am sure if he is selected to go on the pitch then I am sure he will give it all he has got.”