Hearts set to miss out on £6m Nigerian international as he nears La Liga move, plus Liam Boyce latest

The Stoke City star is set to sign a loan deal to move back to Spain

Hearts are set to miss out on Stoke City midfielder Peter Etebo.

The 24-year-old was one of four players from the Championship side linked with a Tynecastle switch. However, he is set for a return to La Liga with Getafe, according to various reports.

Stoke signed Etebo for around £6million in the summer of 2018 and became an influential player last season.

Liam Boyce is still interesting Hearts. Picture: Getty

Due to injury and change of manager, the versatile Nigerian has fallen out of favour with new Stoke boss Michael O'Neill noting: "His training has been ok, it’s been no better than ok, so that’s important. There’s no guarantee that anyone comes back and we put them straight in the team."

Etebo, who has 33 caps for Nigeria, joined Stoke from Portuguese side Feirense, while he had previously had a spell with Spanish side Las Palmas.

With the capacity to play in the middle of the pitch, on either flank or higher up the pitch he would have provided Daniel Stendel with a number of options.

Instead, he is nearing a loan switch to Getafe, who are sixth in La Liga, with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.

Hearts are set to miss out on Peter Etebo. Picture: Getty

No Boyce change

Heats remain interested in Burton Albion striker Liam Boyce which was previously reported by the Evening News.

As per reports on Friday morning, the club prefer a move this month for the former Ross County ace.

The Northern Ireland international has just over six months left to run on his contract with the League One side.

With a number of teams expected to be interested, Hearts want to steal a march to bring him back to the Premiership where he hit 48 goals in 99 league appearances.