English defender could soon arrive in Edinburgh

Hearts and York City have agreed a transfer fee for centre-back Malachi Fagan-Walcott. The 24-year-old is now discussing terms with Tynecastle officials and will undergo a medical before finalising his transfer north. Hearts will pay a high six-figure sum to sign Fagan-Walcott as York were refusing to let him leave for less than £700,000.

After previous offers from Gorgie were rejected, the two clubs have now reached an agreement. Hearts see Fagan-Walcott as a decent fit for the Scottish Premiership following an outstanding campaign in England’s National League. York won the title to secure promotion back into England’s Football League and received various approaches for their biggest asset, whose contract runs until 2029. Oxford United were one of several teams credited with an interest.

Hearts can offer top-flight football and a chance to experience European competition, which appeals to the player. Provided the deal is finalised, Fagan-Walcott would be a replacement for the injured Craig Halkett in the centre of Hearts’ defence. Halkett ruptured his Achilles tendon and tore a calf muscle against Motherwell last month. He is facing seven to nine months on the sidelines.

Fagan-Walcott scored eight times and claimed four assists from 36 league appearances this season. The Tottenham Hotspur youth academy graduate is familiar with Scottish football after previous loan spells at Dundee and Dunfermline Athletic. He is now nearing an agreement to join a list of new recruits at Riccarton after Hearts signed St Johnstone winger Josh McPake, Lincoln City defender MJ Kamson-Kamara and Falkirk attacker Calvin Miller.

Earlier today, Miller completed his move to Tynecastle on a three-year contract. Hearts paid Falkirk a six-figure fee to sign him on the back of nine goals and 11 assists this season. He is keen to continue the form which helped newly-promoted Falkirk secure a top-six place in this season’s Premiership table. He is also excited about the prospect of playing in European qualifiers this summer.

“I like to score goals and set up goals and I think that's just all I care about is if I can contribute to the team,” Miller said in a Hearts TV interview. “I think I've been doing that the last three seasons so I just want to continue that form and keep progressing and now that this club's in Europe it would be unbelievable if I could go and chip in, doing that in the bigger stage.

“Who doesn't want to play in Europe? You get a chance in the Champions League qualifiers to then go and progress and then if not then it's Europa League and that's a big stage. That's where you can go and make a name for yourself and the club can go and make a name for itself as well and I'm just dying to get started.”