Steven Naismith’s priority this summer was reshaping and strengthening the Hearts squad quickly for the start of season 2024/25. He has already improved a number of positions but is not finished. It is an indication of the head coach’s drive and the club’s ambition that transfer business has been completed efficiently and swiftly with more to follow with the calendar yet to hit July.
Ryan Fulton, James Penrice, Daniel Oyegoke, Blair Spittal, Musa Drammeh and Yan Dhanda are all signed and announced, taking the number of new recruits to six. That will become seven next month, provided there are no unexpected hitches to the deal for Costa Rican defender Gerald Taylor.
That will leave Hearts with a 31-man first-team squad. Naismith does not want to carry such a big number even though he has European league-stage matches to navigate alongside domestic games. That means some will move on.
READ MORE: Hearts reveal plans for Dhanda and Spittal
Striker Kyosuke Tagawa is attracting interest from Japan and Portugal, whilst defender Alex Cochrane has been scouted by English clubs. Nathaniel Atkinson, Toby Sibbick and possibly Jorge Grant may all discover that their best chance of regular football is to move on from Gorgie.
Hearts have assembled a very competitive squad with multiple options in every position. Here is a look at who fits in and where, plus ratings on the overall strength of each area:
That will leave Hearts with a 31-man first-team squad. Naismith does not want to carry such a big number even though he has European league-stage matches to navigate alongside domestic games. That means some will move on.
![Another strong area of the pitch. Expect Beni Baningime to play regularly after agreeing a new deal. Calem Nieuwenhof will be fit again, Cammy Devlin will want to play, plus there is Jorge Grant, Finlay Pollock and Aidan Denholm to factor in.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/26/11/25/21060569.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Centre midfield: 8/10
Another strong area of the pitch. Expect Beni Baningime to play regularly after agreeing a new deal. Calem Nieuwenhof will be fit again, Cammy Devlin will want to play, plus there is Jorge Grant, Finlay Pollock and Aidan Denholm to factor in. | SNS Group
![Hearts' plethora of options in this department is the envy of most clubs in Scotland. Barrie McKay, Yutaro Oda, Alan Forrest, Finlay Pollock and Kenneth Vargas have been joined by Blair Spittal and Yan Dhanda. Keeping them all happy will not be easy.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/26/11/38/21030297.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Attacking midfield: 9/10
Hearts' plethora of options in this department is the envy of most clubs in Scotland. Barrie McKay, Yutaro Oda, Alan Forrest, Finlay Pollock and Kenneth Vargas have been joined by Blair Spittal and Yan Dhanda. Keeping them all happy will not be easy. | SNS Group
![Lawrence Shankland is the undisputed No.9 but Liam Boyce's return from injury offers useful experience. Kyosuke Tagawa's future remains unclear following the recent arrival of Musa Drammeh. Four strikers with lots to offer.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/26/11/09/21065851.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Forward: 8/10
Lawrence Shankland is the undisputed No.9 but Liam Boyce's return from injury offers useful experience. Kyosuke Tagawa's future remains unclear following the recent arrival of Musa Drammeh. Four strikers with lots to offer. | SNS Group