Hearts make move for Kosovo internationalist Donis Avdijaj

Edinburgh club in talks about bringing forward to Tynecastle

Hearts target Donis Avdijaj (No.7) in action for Trabzonspor against Basel. Pic: Getty Images

Hearts have approached the Kosovan international forward Donis Avdijaj about a move to Tynecastle Park.

The 23-year-old had his contract at Turkish club Trabzonspor terminated on Friday morning, but other teams in Europe are also interested in signing him.

Hearts manager Daniel Stendel wants more pace and flair in attack and is familiar with Germany-born Avdijaj, who can operate on either flank or through the middle. He emerged from the youth system at Schalke 04 before spells at Sturm Graz in Austria and the Dutch sides Roda JC and Willem II.

Liverpool previously showed interest in him after he scored 59 goals in 53 games for Schalke's under-17 side. That led to reports in Germany of a £41million release clause being inserted in his Schalke contract.

Avdijaj represented Germany at under-16, under-17 and under-19 level before switching his international allegiance to Kosovo in 2016.

He has appeared six times for the Balkan nation and is now able to move for free. He joined Trabzonspor last July on a one-year deal which the Turks had an option to extend. Instead, both parties agreed to an early termination to let him continue his career elsewhere.

Talks are ongoing at the moment between Hearts and Avdijaj's representatives.