Hearts have had a bid for Forest Green Rovers midfielder Laurent Mendy turned down by the National League club.
The Scottish Premiership leaders’ analytics service has identified 28-year-old Mendy as a possible option amid absences for Beni Baningime and Cammy Devlin.
Devlin was last week ruled out injured for up to two months while Baningime will serve a two-match suspension following his recent red card against St Mirren. Baningime also appeared to pick up a knock during Saturday’s Scottish Cup defeat by Falkirk.
Hearts host second-placed Celtic, who trail by six points, on Sunday (15:00 GMT).
Manager Derek McInnes will have to do without captain and Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland.
Top scorer Shankland, 30, went off with a hamstring problem against Falkirk, for up to eight weeks.
Elton Kabangu, Pierre Landry Kabore and James Wilson are available, along with regular forward Claudio Braga, while a deal has been agreed to sign Uganda forward Rogers Mato, 22.
However, it’s unlikely the paperwork and work permit for Mato will be completed by the weekend.
- Hearts linked with Forest Green’s Mendy – gossip
- Hearts seal Mato deal after Shankland injury blow
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