Hearts transfer talks in France, the Amadou Ba-Sy written apology and what Tom Renaud will bring to Edinburgh

Jamestown Analytics specialise in deep-dive recruitment. Last year, a plunge into Italy’s Serie D unearthed an Albanian winger who is now a Hearts cult hero. This summer, France’s Championnat National is being plundered to replenish the Riccarton first-team squad. Versailles midfielder Tom Renaud and Rouen forward Amadou Ba-Sy are close to joining up at Tynecastle Park. Faith is once again placed in Jamestown’s penchant for unearthing hidden talent from lower-league football.

The French third tier is a reasonable level, Renaud and Ba-Sy represent little financial risk, and both players are itching to play in Scotland’s Premiership. Champions League qualifiers offer added appeal. Renaud, 25, has pledged his future to Hearts as a free agent and 24-year-old Ba-Sy will cost €200,000 [£173,000] in a transfer fee from Rouen. That deal is edging nearer completion. Supporters in Gorgie are adjusting to the fact that many of Hearts signings are now unknowns, which worked well last season with Claudio Braga, Alexandros Kyziridis and several others.

The difficult part is knowing what to expect before the new guys yank a maroon shirt over their heads. Ba-Sy [pronounced ‘Ba-See’] is a particular mystery. His record of six goals and four assists from 29 games this season cannot be considered prolific. Jamestown first identified him in January and Hearts made an approach back then, but Rouen did not want to sell whilst chasing promotion to Ligue 2 after a 23-year absence. They lost in the play-offs against Stade Lavallois last month and Ba-Sy is now preparing to move. He is not a Lawrence Shankland replacement, more a versatile attacker who can operate as a target man, a second striker or a wide player.

He drifted between Rouen’s striker area and the left flank this season, enjoying many a rampaging run. He has a slightly unorthodox dribbling style with the ball and, at 6ft 3in tall and weighing more than 13st, he is the proverbial unit. Rouen supporters criticised players during the second half of the season as some defeats - one against Renaud’s Versailles - impacted the club’s quest for promotion. Ba-Sy, though, received media praise for his individual displays as the only player to stand out for the Red Devils.

He joined them last summer from Portuguese club Vizela and his steady improvement during the year earned him an automatic starting place in head coach Régis Brouard’s team. “When you look at the Amadou of the beginning and the one of today, you can see that we have done some real work with him,” he declared during Rouen’s final promotion push. “There has been a real improvement in his effort and effectiveness. I think he has grasped some aspects of the game and what he needs to put in place to perform well, but he also knows what he still needs to work on.”

The player is keen to develop having identified areas to work on. Understanding and linking with team-mates on the pitch is one. Defensive diligence is another. “I need to learn to use my team-mates better,” said Ba-Sy. “There are already connections between us, it's progressing little by little, especially with Clem [Bassin, Rouen’s left-back].”

“Sometimes he lacks composure,” said Brouard of Ba-Sy. “He wants so badly to score, to be decisive, that sometimes he rushes things or makes poor choices. He's not always in sync with the others.” This is evident watching footage of Ba-Sy in action. His defensive work has also been noted by Brouard. “He gets criticized for that because when he finishes an attack, on the first or second phase of play, he doesn't get back into position,” pointed out the coach. “He is always reacting, and he has to make a huge effort to recover. If he got back into position immediately, it would give him time to attack better afterwards.”

There is clear evidence that Ba-Sy isn’t afraid to stand up for himself - a useful trait for Scottish football’s unforgiving environment. This manifested itself five games from the end of Rouen’s league campaign after fans issued a public statement accusing players of “unacceptable” performance, claiming they had a mental collapse since February. Several names were mentioned, including Ba-Sy.

“Ba Sy, we had to beg you to go see sick children in the hospital on a club-organized outing,” read part of the statement. “You asked to cancel because you were tired. Shame on you! You were a substitute in the first half of the season, you played five good games, and you think you've proven anything? Do you realise you're at a club that has seen hundreds of players better than you? Players from Ligue 2, Ligue 1, internationals. So, a little humility, and remember to wear proper boots; it was like watching you on an ice rink in Concarneau. Good luck to the club that signs you with your attitude. We don't want you any more right now.”

Ba-Sy had a confrontation with Rouen Ultras after the 0-0 draw in Concarneau on 17 April. He took umbrage at criticism but then apologised on the club’s official website. “Dear supporters, please have no doubt about my commitment and my determination to give my best performance in every match,” he wrote. “I want to apologize for my reaction after the match against Concarneau. “Even in a tense atmosphere and faced with disrespectful remarks directed at me that can be difficult to hear, I must remain exemplary. I am thinking of all the supporters, I am putting this behind me, and I am focusing 100 per cent on the end of the season to achieve our collective goal.”

So, he clearly has a bit about him and carries an edge to his game. Renaud, meanwhile, is a quietly authoritative midfielder but possesses all the talent to succeed at a higher level than the Championnat. He is effectively Beni Baningime’s replacement at Hearts as a No.6 with the technical ability to control games. He stands 6ft tall with an athletic frame. He is fit and mobile and misses very few matches through injury. Diagonal balls are one of his specialities.

Those who have watched Renaud feel his talent should be exposed to a higher division. The challenge in Scotland is coping with the intensity, physicality and hostility at times. France’s third division is a more relaxed environment, so Renaud will need to think and act quicker in order to produce his best. His CV includes spells with Lorient and SO Cholet, so this is his first venture outside his homeland. Hearts need him to hit the ground running following Baningime’s departure and the end of Marc Leonard’s loan. If the club cannot agree a new contract with Cammy Devlin, the Australian’s exit will create another midfield void. Lines of communication are still open on that front.

Renaud and Ba-Sy are two Jamestown-identified signings who represent another venture into the unknown for Hearts. Both players have served their trade, so to speak, in the lower reaches of French football. The Scottish league is a definite step up, and European competition another jump again. Renaud and Ba-Sy are ready to leave northern France for Edinburgh hoping to make a name for themselves. They are unknowns right now, but Tynecastle is a platform where they aim to flourish and realise their full potential.