Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has admitted the clock is ticking on adding to his Champions League squad ahead of Tuesday's crucial qualifying clash with Sturm Graz. The Jambos are in the market for a defensive midfielder following Cammy Devlin's move to Rangers, and Tynecastle chiefs remain keen on Forest Green Rovers' Laurent Mendy.
Transfer window pressure
Vrancken must submit his squad for the first leg in Graz by Thursday night, with only two additional players allowed until 11pm on Monday, provided the homegrown player quota is met. When asked if he hoped to bolster his squad before the trip to Austria, Vrancken said: "I don't know if it's possible, because we have to give the list on Thursday. So I think it's more realistic to think it will be after the Sturm Graz game to be possible to play."
Forest Green Rovers boss Robbie Savage has insisted Mendy is not for sale, but Vrancken confirmed Hearts have other targets through their Jamestown Analytics data system. "I think he has a type of profile that is more of a defensive midfielder, a six actually," Vrancken said of Mendy. "But it's up to the club and him to find some agreement. And if it's not then JTA has other players."
Friendly and fitness updates
Hearts will prepare for the Graz match with a glamour friendly at home to Europa Conference League runners-up Rayo Vallecano on Friday evening, marking Tynecastle's 140th anniversary. Vrancken is keen for summer signing Amadou Ba-Sy to feature after illness ruled him out of all four pre-season games so far. The forward, signed from FC Rouen, will not be risked if not fully fit.
Speaking after Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win over Arbroath, Vrancken said: "He trained well today. He's going good. He gained some weight because he lost a lot of weight. He gained some weight so everything looks good. But still, the base is the volume and stuff like this. Together with intensity we have to see how he feels after a hard session. But at the moment he shows some really good things, I have to say."
Finlay Pollock is also struggling with a hamstring injury. Vrancken added: "Not fit yet. Also day by day or week by week maybe. Because we want to be really careful with him. But the last scan was positive. It was looking positive. So we can build up from there. Let's hope that we can bring him back soon."
Backroom addition and loan move
Hearts have added set-piece coach Liam Ross from Southampton to Vrancken's backroom team. The former Rangers development team coach will begin work on Monday. Vrancken commented: "I didn't work with a set-piece coach in Belgium. But I think it's a good asset. I like that there is someone who focusses really only on set-pieces. Because of the importance of it."
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Liam McFarlane, 21, is set to join Partick Thistle on a season-long loan. He spent last season at Alloa and travelled to the World Cup with Scotland's future generation group. Vrancken said: "Liam will be loaned out. I think it's good for him just to play. I think it's no use to put him on the bench or give him some minutes here or there. I think he has to go somewhere that he can play 90 minutes every week. And then he can be a good asset for us afterwards."
