Sander Kartum Hearts transfer takes massive step forward as fee revealed

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Hearts hope to make two more signings this week to take their January total to four.

Austrian central defender Michael Steinwender is already in Edinburgh after a fee was agreed with IFK Varnamo with personal terms the only thing to be thrashed out, and not expected to be difficult to do.

That comes after the early window additions of striker Elton Kabangu on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise and defender Jamie McCart on a permanent deal.

The Jambos have also been looking to add a winger to bring more creativity and pace to their attacking play.

And they’ve held talks with Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov and Danny Armstrong of Kilmarnock.

Neil Critchley has also been looking to add quality in the centre of the pitch to aid the push away from the relegation zone.

And it emerged over the weekend that Brann midfielder Sander Kartum was a Hearts target.

• READ MORE: Hearts to sign ‘technically gifted’ player set to be released by Celtic

Hearts agree Kartum fee

And that one appears to have moved quickly, with the Daily Record reporting a fee of £320,000 has been agreed between the two sides.

The 29-year-old goalscoring midfielder is said to be en route to Edinburgh today to finalise personal terms and complete his move to the Scottish capital.

It is claimed the basics of a deal are already in place with the player so it shouldn’t take too long to finish off.

It is another signing flagged up onto the Jambos’ radar by Jamestown Analytics, their use of it ramping up after coming to an agreement with the firm a few months ago.

Steinwender is also expected to become a Hearts player over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Will Hearts sign any more in January?

After Kartum and Steinwender are over the line, Hearts fans can expect at least one more.

They’re still in the market for a winger, which the team is in need of, and it’s believed talks with Chesnokov have been progressing. Sources previously told Not the Old Firm patience was required, though.

If anything can be done with Armstrong that could be a pre-contract for next season, although they could then look to pay Kilmarnock a fee to bring that forward.

Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay spoke on Friday and said he expected his club to do “one or two more” pieces of business but it’s not clear if he meant in top of the names already doing the rounds.

He 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.”