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Hearts boss Daniel Stendel has been true to his word in cutting the size of the club's first-team squad. Already Aidan Keena and Glenn Whelan have been moved on, with Christophe Berra, Craig Wighton and Jake Mulraney all made available for transfer.

Fans are now eager to see arrivals. Stendel has targeted five signings in January as he goes about putting his own stamp on the squad.

A number of names have recently been linked with a switch to Tynecastle, and looking at their playing profile it is clear the German manager wants to add pace, skill and power to the team in attacking areas.

Charles-Jesaja Herrmann

Herrmann - or Akonnor as he has on his Instagram account - is the son of a former Ghanaian international Charles Akonnor, who spent the majority of his career playing in Germany for Fortuna Koln and Wolfsburg.

It is at the latter where the 19-year-old is playing his football. He has been at the club for nearly six years having moved from Hannover but is yet to make the step up to the first team.

The striker is currently turning out in the fourth tier of German football with the Wolfsburg second team, netting four goals in 14 games this term following impressive tallies for both the U17 and U19 sides.

Dominic Samuel is a striker at Blackburn Rovers. Picture: Getty

A Nike athlete, he can play play for either Ghana, the country of his parents, or Germany where he was born. He has represented the latter at youth level, from U15s to the U19s. He last featured for the side in March, netting in a 3-0 win over Hungary.

The teenager is a strong, powerful, central striker. He can travel with the ball and hold off players, has a fierce shot and is a danger from set pieces.

In May, reports linked him with Everton, Newcastle and Celtic, who were understood to be scouting him during his time with Wolfsburg's U19s.

In an interview with Ghanaian media he revealed big ambitions for his career.

Mamadou Thiam has a powerful shot. Picture: Getty

“I know I dream big about what I want," he said. "You have to work for it really hard but I want to win the Ballon D‘Or and the World Cup with the National Team these are my biggest dreams.

“I have the same speciality as my father. Football is in the genes so it’s something I love doing. I started playing football with my aunt at the age of 3 and that’s how it all started.

“The Brazilian Ronaldo and Thierry Henry are my idols and I really want to win the World Cup title with the national team."

Dominic Samuel

Jordan Green was signed by Daniel Stendel for Barnsley. Picture: Getty

"If you put the ball in front of him there is not many faster and more direct than Dominic Samuel," ex-Hibs boss Tony Mowbray said.

The current Blackburn Rovers manager recruited the striker for the Lancashire club back in the summer of 2017 as they looked to get out of English League One.

Samuel, who is attracting interest from teams in England, played his part netting five goals in 19 starts. The 25-year-old was looking for a place to settle after five loan spells while contracted to Reading.

When the former England U19 international was expected to kick on, he suffered an ACL injury in August 2018, meaning his season was over after just three appearances that season.

Ahead of this term's Championship, Mowbray saw him as someone who had a part to play.

He said: "He has been good on the training ground, he has looked very fast and agile and all the things as to why we brought him here in the first place really," said Mowbray.

"He is very quick, his straight line running is exceptional and we have to put him in the right positions, I have always thought that with Dominic."

That has not been the case with just two appearances for the first team, but even recently Mowbray talked about possibly using him after injury to key player Bradley Dack.

Samuel, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has a good scoring record in Premier League 2.

Mamadou Thiam

If fans are keen on players who score goals by thumping the ball so hard that those behind the goals should have serious concerns about their safety, even if it hits the back of the net, then look no further than Mamadou Thiam.

The 24-year-old forward played under Daniel Stendel for more than a year at Barnsley.

After a difficult first season with the Tykes having arrived from Dijon in 2017, it wasn't until the following campaign and appointment of Stendel which brought out the best in him.

Thiam was one of the most direct and exciting players in English League One. He provided the third most crosses in the division, attempted the seventh most dribbles, while he also had an end product, setting team-mates up for 29 chances, the third highest figure.

But it was the blockbuster goals, driving down the left and cutting onto his right foot, which really stood out - including this howitzer against Luton Town.

The former Senegalese youth international is not fancied by new boss Gerhard Struber, having not played since Stendel's exit.

Thiam plays mostly on the left but can be utilised in other attacking positions.

Jordan Green

The second Barnsley player Hearts have bee linked with, Green was someone signed by Daniel Stendel during his season and a bit at Oakwell.

Released by Fulham as a 16-year-old, the winger worked in Waitrose, playing football for Banbury United, a team currently in level 7 of the English pyramid.

A trial at Bournemouth presented an opportunity to get back into full-time football, one which he took. A loan at Newport County gave him exposure to first-team football before making the move to Yeovil Town.

Green played nearly 70 games before a mid-season move to Barnsley having caught the eye of Stendel.

The Barnsley website, on his signing, described him as: "A skilful, pacey and attacking winger, Green brings flair and exhilarating speed."

Gauthier Ganaye, the club's chief executive, said: "Jordan is an excellent signing for the club. Having spoken at length with Daniel about this position, we knew what we wanted to add. Jordan brings a huge amount of pace and has a direct view on football where he wants to attack and beat his defender to get to the box."

Who are the reported Hearts targets - striker wanted by Celtic | in-demand forward | 'skilful, pacey and attacking winger'