Hearts look to sign keeper David Soria Solis

HEARTS are interested in signing the former Real Madrid goalkeeper David Soria Solis following his recent trial at Riccarton. However, fellow trialist Diego Moreno Minguez is no longer on the club’s radar.

The Evening News has learned that the 19-year-old keeper, known as Soria, impressed coaching staff during a week-long stay in Edinburgh earlier this month. Hearts are now considering whether to move to sign him as competition for the current youth-team goalkeeper Jack Hamilton.

Next season’s under-20 league would provide Soria with a platform to showcase his credentials but, with the future of first-team manager Paulo Sergio still unclear, all talks remain on hold for the time being.

Minguez, known as Diego, also trained at Riccarton alongside Soria. Both had e-mailed club officials asking for a chance to train with Hearts after being told neither had a future with Real. They played in a bounce match against Livingston but any interest in the forward will not be followed up as Hearts believe they are well covered in that department.

The club are shaping their youth squad ahead of the under-20 league kick-off and handed new one-year contracts to the highly-rated defensive duo Kevin McHattie and Brad McKay at the end of last week. Other new recruits will be finalised ahead of pre-season training beginning in July.