Gary Mackay-Steven 'set to sign deal with Hearts' - reports

Former Aberdeen and Celtic winger Gary Mackay-Steven will reportedly undergo a medical with Hearts today ahead of a proposed move.

Gary Mackay-Steven has been linked with a move to Hearts

The 30-year-old is a free agent following a spell with MLS team New York City FC and had been linked with a return to Pittodrie.

Mackay-Steven is understood to have held initial talks with the Dons but Sky Sports is reporting that the Thurso-born midfielder, who began his senior career with Airdrie before moving to Dundee United, could put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal at Tynecastle.

Robbie Neilson told the Evening News earlier this week that his priorities during the January transfer window were a winger and a striker.

The Hearts boss said: “We need something a bit different up front, somebody with a bit of physicality who will link the play. You saw from the Dundee game that there wasn’t a lot of football played. The surface was poor and starting to freeze up so teams are going direct.

“It would be somebody who can play beside [Liam] Boyce at times and beside [Craig] Wighton as well,” he added.

“Boyce can hold the ball up but I think he is also technically a very good player. If we can get somebody in to take that strain off him – linking play, winning flick-ons and securing the ball up the pitch – I think it’s important. It would also give us a different option.”

Meanwhile, versatile defender Michael Smith has extended his stay with the Capital club, tying him to Hearts until the summer of 2022.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.If you haven't already, please consider supporting our sports coverage with a digital sports subscription.