Heart of Midlothian

We asked for your thoughts after Hearts confirmed the appointment of Wouter Vrancken as their new head coach.

Here's what some of you had to say:

John: After last season there's only one way to go, onwards and upwards!

Ken: Scotland's manager of the year replaced by Belgium's. I doubt we could have done much better than that.

SJ: If he's attack-minded, willing to use the entire squad and can make a substitution before the 88th minute then he's a big upgrade.

Bill: Seems ideal. Good track record, but less than a month for a crucial Champions League game. Wish him and the staff well.

Ross: Looking forward to this new era at Hearts. Wouter sounds like a great fit for us and I can't wait to see what he brings.

Neil: Looks a very interesting appointment, clearly has something to offer! Expectations are high with the Hearts supporters, another season like the last one and possibly a cup win would be great.

David: I am delighted with this appointment and can't wait to see how he does. Like many people I had never heard of him, but he seems a perfect fit for us. Exciting times and I am way more optimistic now than I was two weeks ago. Buckle your seats, it's going to be an exciting ride. Onwards and upwards.

Bruce: Sounds like an interesting appointment, definitely not a boring one by all accounts! Seems to fit the Hearts 'mould' of exciting and attacking play. Good!

Bob: Hope he's up to scratch and gets the supporters on side.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Sporting director Graeme Jones outlined why analytics was crucial in identifying Hearts' new head coach Wouter Vrancken quickly.

The 47-year-old Belgian takes charge at Tynecastle just over a week after Derek McInnes departed for Rangers.

"We obviously have the support of the analytics side to flag up the best candidates, but Wouter was definitely a standout within that," Jones said.

"It's the same way it works with players. They give us clarity as to what decision making needs to be. And then from there, it's up to us to make sure the human process comes out on top."

Jones had an online meeting with Vrancken before a face-to-face, full-day interview in London last week as Hearts aimed to get their new head coach in before players get back to work.

"The main thing for me was that when we had to start pre-season training tomorrow, that we would have our new head coach in," he said.

"So, it was just as clean and as thorough a process as we could go through."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment as Hearts head coach.

Here are the key lines:

• It feels "amazing" to get the job after seeing some Hearts games last season and the atmosphere at Tynecastle.

• The Belgian wanted to move abroad a few years ago but says it needed to be the right move. He feels Hearts is a fit for him and Edinburgh is an attractive place for his family.

• When asked if the aim is to challenge for the title again in the coming years, Vrancken said "for sure".

• He says his Hearts team will "like to have the ball" and bring "joy" to the game with lots of intensity.

• The expectation is to compete with the Glasgow teams and try to "overachieve" again in his career.

• Vrancken has always worked with a model of collaborative recruitment and has links with Union Saint-Gilloise's sporting director, so is excited to get access to the Jamestown Analytics software.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts face a rebuilding job this summer - and not just because they have changed head coach and lost the man who led them close to their first title in 66 years in his only season in charge.

Scotland striker and Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland had already left for Rangers before McInnes joined last season's top scorer at Ibrox.

Beni Beningime has left under freedom of contract, fellow key midfielder Cammy Devlin has yet to decide whether to accept a new deal and there are doubts about the future of 43-year-old Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Michael Steinwender and Frankie Kent are also among the departures and fellow defender Craig Halkett will miss the start of the season through injury, while reports suggest Claudio Braga - Scottish football's player of the year last season - and winger Alexandros Kyziridis could be next to be sold.

However, that is seen as a normal part of the buy-low, sell-for-profit strategy adopted by recruitment partner Jamestown Analytics at Brighton and Union St-Gilloise.

Hearts have already brought in seven players, only two of them with any Scottish pedigree - wingers Calvin Miller and Josh McPake from Falkirk and St Johnstone respectively.

It will be Wouter Vrancken's job to fashion them into a winning team while satisfying expectations of success fuelled by coming so close to glory last season.

He does not have long to do so either, with Champions League qualifiers added to the fixture schedule this season.

Belgian Wouter Vrancken has been confirmed as the new Hearts head coach, succeeding Derek McInnes on a two-year contract.

We want to know how you're feeling about the appointment.

Do you think he is the right man for the job and can he maintain the momentum of last season?

What should Vrancken's priorities be this summer?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov is poised to leave Heart of Midlothian after only six months at Tynecastle, with reports in his homeland suggesting Aktobe have beaten former club Tobol to the 26-year-old's signature. (Daily Record), external

Hearts are poised to sign attacking midfielder Cormac Daly after the 19-year-old left Nottingham Forest as a free agent after impressing on loan to Hereford United in the National League. (Daily Record), external

Image source, Hearts TV

Sabri Guendouz has targeted the Scottish title and Champions League qualification after making "the big step" from the Belgian second tier to Hearts.

The 26-year-old forward has been bought from Beerschot, who finished third in the Challenger Pro League, Belgian's second tier, last season.

It is the same club from whom departing captain Lawrence Shankland signed for Hearts.

"This is the big step in my small career, but I'm not scared," Guendouz told Hearts TV.

"I'm very confident with myself, my talent and my play."

Guendouz spent a season with Beerschot after previously playing for Guingamp in the French second tier, scoring three goals and providing seven assists in his 33 appearances.

He hopes having his wife, family and agent with him in Edinburgh will help him settle in quickly as Hearts prepare for pre-season training and their Champions League third qualifying round meeting with Sturm Graz on 21 July.

Guendouz noted how close Hearts came to winning the league title last season and added: "I hope for the same season and the first place.

"I also have the big objective of the qualification for the Champions League.

"The stadium is very incredible. I am very excited."

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Hearts have confirmed the arrival of midfielder Tom Renaud - their second French signing within a matter of hours - on a four-year contract, billing him as the maestro of Versailles.

The Edinburgh club earlier revealed they had paid an undisclosed fee for forward Sabri Guendouz from Belgian outfit Beerschot.

But 25-year-old Ploemeur-born Renaud was a free agent after the conclusion of his contract with Versailles in his country's third tier.

Renaud came through the youth ranks with Lorient but did not make a breakthrough into the first team, instead spending two loans spells with third-tier Cholet before joining permanently in 2022 and amassing 112 appearances during which he scored eight goals.

He moved on to Versailles in 2024 and made 24 appearances as they finished 13th before playing 32 times last season as they finished fifth.

Although he did not score for Versailles, he provided seven assists.

Renaud becomes Hearts' seventh summer signing.

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Hearts have completed the signing of "exciting, direct attacker" Sabri Guendouz from Belgian second-tier club Beerschot for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old Frenchman has signed a contract until summer 2029.

Guendouz started his career with Valenciennes in the French third tier before moving to Guingamp in 2020 and, after promotion from the B team, helped them to the promotion play-offs and a Coupe de France quarter-final.

"Last season, he made the move to Belgium where he became Beerschot's creative outlet with 10 goal contributions," Hearts say on their website.

Guendouz was also their main goal assist provider, most active dribbler and winner of penalties as Beerschot finished third but missed out on promotion after being edged out in their play-off final.

The Cambrai-born forward becomes Hearts sixth signing of the summer as they rebuild the squad that came runners-up in the Scottish Premiership last season.

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Lewis Neilson has the "raw material" to flourish at Falkirk, says John McGlynn, as the centre-back makes a permanent switch following his Hearts exit.

The defender, 23, has signed a two-year contract after making 24 appearances on loan last season at the Bairns, who finished sixth on their Premiership return.

Neilson also top-flight experience from spells with St Johnstone and Dundee United.

"At 23, he's the perfect age, and we know he has a little bit of improving to do, but the raw material is there," said manager McGlynn.

"He's one of the quickest centre-backs I've ever worked with and he's good on the ball. There's still some fine-tuning to be done with Lewis but, overall, he's a very good professional and he's a joy to work with.

"He's got a good career ahead of him and we want to try and make the most of that and get him playing at the top of his game, which is something we're looking forward to."

Olympiacos, PAOK, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos all want to bring Alexandros Kyziridis back to Greece, with Hearts asking for a transfer fee of between £2.6m to £3.4m for the 25-year-old winger. (Fussball Europa), external

Sabri Guendouz has said goodbye to fans of Belgian second-tier side Beerschot with 26-year-old forward in Edinburgh to undergo a medical and finalise a six-figure transfer to Hearts. (Hearts Standard), external

Wouter Vrancken will arrive in Edinburgh on Wednesday to finalise a deal to become Hearts' new head coach and the former Sint-Truiden boss hopes to bring former Club Brugge midfielder Tim Smolders and Jong Cercle coach Cederique Tulleners with him as his assistants. (Daily Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hearts have sold defender Michael Steinwender to German second-tier club Bochum for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old Austrian had signed until summer 2028 when Hearts bought him from Varnamo in January last year after he had spent half a season in the Swedish top flight.

Now he exits Tynecastle after making 47 appearances for the Scottish Premiership club, scoring twice, 34 of them last season, all but 13 of them as starts.

Steinwender, who has signed until summer 2029 with Bochum, started his career with Mattersburg before moves to St Polten and Hartberg.

He told Bochum's website: "I am overjoyed to have the chance to prove myself here in Germany in Bundesliga 2.

"VfL really pursued me and gave me a great feeling right from the start."

Director of professional football Simon Zoller added: "Michael won us over with his all-round package as a modern centre-back."

Bochum were ninth in the 18-team German second tier last season.

Wouter Vrancken, who quit Belgian club St Truiden this summer to seek a new challenge after guiding them to third place in his homeland's Pro League, will be the new Hearts manager. ‌(Daily Record), external

Wouter Vrancken is close to becoming Hearts' new head coach after the former St Truiden 47-year-old was interviewed along with former AZ Alkmaar boss Maarten Martens and Rene Hake, who has previously been on the coaching staff at both Feyenoord and Manchester United. (Hearts Standard), external

Lyon are in talks with Hearts about forward Claudio Braga, with the Tynecastle club hoping to receive about £8.6m for the 26-year-old Portuguese forward. (Foot Mercato), external

Hearts will demand £8m-£10m for Portuguese striker Claudio Braga with French club Lyon, who have lost Brazil's Endrick after his loan from Real Madrid, and others showing interest. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Hearts are interested in Zwolle striker Koen Kostons and are willing to pay around £1.3m for the 26-year-old signed from Paderborn last summer. (De Stentor), external

Michael Steinwender is in talks about a potential transfer to German second-tier club Bochum, with Hearts set to make a profit on the six-figure fee they paid Varnamo for the 26-year-old defender 18 months ago. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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In signing Lawrence Shankland, Rangers have secured a striker as lethal as Hearts legend John Robertson, former Tynecastle manager Craig Levein has suggested.

And, in also taking Derek McInnes from Hearts, they have a manager perfectly suited to the Ibrox club, he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

Levein thinks Hearts will find it difficult to replace 30-year-old captain Shankland as: "He's the type of player, he'll play well into his 30s, because the thing that deteriorates most once you get into your mid-30s is your pace and he plays his game in his head.

"Rangers probably spend 65-70% of their games in the opponents' last third in the Premiership, so he is not going to deteriorate.

"I played alongside John Robertson and he is getting to that level, his finishing is that good. Like Robbo, he scores a lot of goals from headers and he's got that calmness in the box."

As for McInnes, Levein added: "Most leagues have their own idiosyncrasies and I was delighted when Hearts brought Derek in because he knows those idiosyncrasies better than anyone.

"He was successful with Aberdeen and with Kilmarnock, the only downside being Bristol City - and the Championship is a difficult league to get success in if you haven't played in it.

"I think at times the Old Firm need to grind out results and Derek is very capable in those sort of situations.

"With the season he had it Hearts, he will be very disappointed he didn't get it [the title] over the line, but he can be very proud of what he did in a very short space of time, along with Jamestown, putting together a team that were competing until the last day.

"As a Hearts supporter, you have to be grateful for what he did at the club in the last season.

"Congratulations to Derek, because he's a Rangers man, isn't he, at heart? Good for him to get back to the team he played for."

Sabri Ghuendouz will have a medical with Hearts on Monday after a fee of £870,000 was agreed with Beerschot for the 26-year-old French winger. (Sacha Tavolieri on X), external

Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn "would be a brilliant appointment" for Hearts, but they are likely "go a little more left field", former Tynecastle midfielder Andy Halliday has predicted.

McGlynn started his coaching career with Hearts - and had a short spell as manager - but last season led the Bairns to a sixth-place finish in their first season back in the Scottish Premiership.

"John McGlynn should stand a chance, that's for sure," Halliday told BBC Scotland's Sportsound when asked to assess his chances of succeeding Derek McInnes, who has joined Rangers.

"Jamestown will look at the analytics and, if John McGlynn doesn't show up well in their analytics, I don't know who will - back-to-back promotions and one of them an invincible season then finishing in the top six.

"I do feel, though, they will go a little more left field."

Halliday, though, thinks Rangers' appointment of McInnes and the return of Martin O'Neill to Celtic shows that clubs should not "turn their noses up" at the quality of coaches closer to home.

He believes Hearts can overcome the loss of McInnes and captain Lawrence Shankland to Rangers.

"If you told a Hearts fan how the last three weeks were going to pan out, there would be a lot of worry, but this is Jamestown Analystics' strengths," Halliday suggested.

"This is what they've done at Brighton when losing their top players and replacing them with players on a smaller fee and selling high and they've done that obviously with Union Saint-Gilloise and winning the Belgian title.

"If this was any other season, there would be a lot of panic, and rightly so, but I think, with Tony Bloom's investment, there is certainly less case for worry.

"I completely get the rhetoric that they're going to improve, but I don't think they'll ever get the chance again to win the league with three minutes to go.

"I don't see that happening in the next five, six, seven years in this 10-year plan that they are in.

"I think it's almost impossible for Celtic to be as bad as they were last season and I think Rangers are going to improve under Derek McInnes."

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New Rangers manager Derek McInnes can "totally understand the frustration" of Hearts fans over the silence from himself and the club following their title agony.

Hearts left Celtic Park immediately after the 3-1 final-day defeat at Celtic Park where home fans invaded the pitch.

McInnes, 54, has not spoken publicly since but has now issued a 475-word statement through the Hearts Standard website.

"It's such a special football club and we had such a brilliant season together," said McInnes.

"I'm well aware I haven't spoken since the last game of the season. I totally understand the frustration from fans around the lack of communication, both from myself and the club, considering the manner in which the season ended. The frustration is justifiable.

"Hearts came so close to completing one of the greatest seasons in the club's history. Despite how the season ended, it was still hugely successful and memorable. A record points total, Champions League qualification, three derby wins and so many more highs and memories along the way.

"Unfortunately, the team didn't get what they deserved in the end."

Hearts led the Premiership table by two points going into the final game and were tied at 1-1 with the defending champions at half-time. Two late goals turned the match and title in Celtic's favour.

A couple of games prior, Hearts had been held 1-1 by Motherwell and head of refereeing Willie Collum later admitted McInnes' side should have had a penalty at Fir Park.

"I was so angry and devastated at how it all played out for us after putting so much effort in," McInnes said.

"The decisions that had a huge impact on the outcome were hard to take. Trying to process it all was part of my thinking as to why I didn't speak.

"When I arrived, I said I wanted to make Hearts something. A team that resonated with the supporters and a team that fans were excited to watch on a Saturday, no matter where and when. I believe we achieved that.

"I also wanted to make Tynecastle Park a place fans wanted to come to and a place opposition teams didn't. I felt Tynecastle was even more special than it normally is and I had that feeling every time I walked out the tunnel and into the home dugout. An unbeaten home record was a brilliant achievement."

McInnes thanked players and the club's staff, saying: "I've spoken to every single one of them over the last few days and wish them only well.

"A big thanks to the support I received from the board, particularly Calum Paterson, and also Graeme Jones for a brilliant, strong working relationship.

"And, finally, the Heart of Midlothian support. I felt like one of you. I wish I'd got to Hearts sooner and that my time at the club was more than 12 months. It was only a short time but it was a brilliant time. I wish Hearts only good things going forward."

Image source, Malcolm Mackenzie/Getty Images

MJ Kamson-Kamara says Hearts are getting an "aggressive" no-nonsense defender after he arrived from Lincoln City.

The centre-back agreed a pre-contract deal in May and is now ready to start pre-season with the club.

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Glentoran in Northern Ireland, playing 31 times and scoring five goals, after a previous spell on loan in England's lower leagues.

"I'd like to say I'm an aggressive, front-footed defender that just loves to defend, loves to block the ball and just loves to be aggressive," he told Hearts' website.

"Lincoln were good with me. They sent me on loan from the age of 17, playing at non-league sides, getting that experience of men's football, which I thought was really important instead of playing youth football.

"I learned a lot of lessons, made mistakes. It was vital for my career so far.

"I can't wait to meet everyone now. A lot of good players with good experience. I can't wait to learn from them and just get better and better.

"It's going to be amazing to be going across Europe and playing against massive teams, massive fans, massive stadiums."

Hearts paid a six-figure transfer fee exceeding £700,000 to York City for their latest signing, 24-year-old defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Former Utrecht, Go Ahead Eagles and Twente head coach Rene Hake, who was most recently Robin van Persie's assistant at Feyenoord, was one of the candidates Hearts spoke to in London as they look to appoint a new manager. (Herald - subscription required), external

Hearts have interviewed Hake, was also in the running for the recent Leicester City vacancy that was filled by ex-Rangers boss Russell Martin, for their managerial vacancy and plan to speak to further candidates in the coming days. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Friday's Scottish gossip