Revealed: Hearts fans want centre-back before transfer window closes

Hearts fans think the club should be targeting a new centre-back before the transfer window closes on Friday.

• READ MORE: Scottish football transfer LIVE: Deadline day bid for Celtic star, Hibs ace allowed to leave, Ryan Gauld to Rangers?

An Evening News poll saw 32 per cent of nearly 700 fans vote in favour of a defensive reinforcement ahead of a new striker or winger.

The team lost Christophe Berra for six months after the club captain picked up a serious injury in the 1-0 win over Celtic earlier this month.

Hearts are without captain Christophe Berra for six months. Picture: SNS/Ross Parker

In the two games since Berra’s injury Hearts have not conceded a goal and added centre-back Jimmy Dunne on loan from Burnley. However, with Aaron Hughes having also picked up an injury and Peter Haring performing so well in midfield, Hearts manager Craig Levein confirmed the club are still in the market for another centre-back.

He said after the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock: “We need another centre-back, I think, even though the two young boys were top drawer. Kris Boyd is still handful, even if he’s 42 or whatever it is.

“I thought they handled it very well. Jimmy was the real tonic. I feel good about them, but with Aaron Hughes out with a calf strain, if one of those two got injured we’d be struggling.”

The club have been linked with a move for Northern Ireland centre-back Gareth McAuley.

• READ MORE: Osman Sow’s return to Hearts hanging in the balance

With the departure of Kyle Lafferty last week, 21 per cent of fans believe the club should be making a new striker a priority. It appeared that Osman Sow would fill that void but complications during the player’s medical has seen the deal hit a snag.

Czech striker David Vanecek will arrive in January, which means Hearts’ striking options are currently Uche Ikpeazu, Steven MacLean and Aidan Keena, with Steven Naismith regarded as a midfielder.

Nineteen per cent of fans voted for a new winger. Levein has shown himself to be versatile with the team’s system so far this season. Both wing-backs and wingers have been used. However, with Danny Amankwaa out of favour the team are relying on Callumn Morrison and Jake Mulraney with added width coming from Ben Garuccio.

The club are close to another loan deal for Demetri Mitchell who could be used as a winger.

• READ MORE: Hearts close to re-signing Demetri Mitchell from Manchester United

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