Hearts are unsurprisingly being linked with quite a few names early in the January transfer market.
After a hellish start to the season the Jambos are staring a relegation fight in the face as they sit 11th in the Premiership, above only St Johnstone.
It’s been clear all season they need to add to their squad, particularly in attacking areas where there has been a lack of guile and pace.
Hearts have begun to address that with Elton Kabangu in the door as the first signing yesterday.
The Belgian striker joins initially on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise until the end of the season but the Jambos hold an option to buy.
Hearts also need defensive reinforcements in January. Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent have both been lost to long-term injuries, potentially for the season, leaving them short of centre-back cover.
Former St Johnstone double winner Jamie McCart is on the Jambos’ radar as they weigh up whether to swoop this month or see if they can get him on a pre-contract.
Wide men would also be welcomed to help with the lack of pace and creativity, and Danny Armstrong has been mentioned with his Kilmarnock exit inevitable.
A fresh link has now emerged.
Hearts namechecked as Longman suitors
Hull City winger Ryan Longman could be making the move to Tynecastle this month.
On the fringes this season, the 24-year-old has made nine appearances in the Championship, six of them as starts.
He is out of contract in the summer and his club are believed to be prepared to allow him to leave this month.
He missed the most recent game against Middlesbrough through injury and that is where mention of Hearts has come from.
Tigers boss Rubén Sellés was asked about the injury, with the reporter suggesting a move to Gorgie was in the offing and wondering whether it could be affected.
Sellés told BBC Humberside: “It looks like he’s going to be a couple of weeks out.
“It’s not a big thing but it keeps him away from today, from the Leeds game and potentially from the FA Cup game.”
The reporter then asked: “What impact does that have? Because there has been some suggestions that a move to Hearts is in the offing, does that impact that at the moment, at all?”
The Spaniard added: “I think it’s too soon to tell. We need to see what is the situation with him.
“If it’s a couple of weeks then it’s about us and what we can do in the market.
“We will analyse.”
Who is Hearts-linked Longman?
Ryan Longman is a 24-year-old winger who plays for Hull City.
The wide man came through the academy at Brighton and made his professional debut against Aston Villa in the EFL Cup.
Loans followed at AFC Wimbledon, scoring eight goals in League One, and then Hull where he found the net three times in the Championship.
That was made permanent and Longman became a regular during his second campaign, scoring twice.
However, he moved to Millwall on loan the following season and made 36 appearances, finding the net another three times.
In total he has played 117 times in the English second tier, scoring nine goals.
Longman has not been a regular starter back at the Tigers and is out of contract in the summer.