Wouter Vrancken has insisted Claudio Braga will remain fully involved at Hearts despite ongoing transfer interest, as the head coach outlined his preferred squad size heading into the new season.
The Portuguese forward has attracted attention from across Europe, with Lyon among the clubs linked, but Vrancken says there has been nothing concrete at this stage.
“At this moment, Claudio is here. Mentally and physically, he's also ready to perform,” he said.
“I put my energy into the guys who are here. At this moment, Claudio is here, so I treat him like he can start the game.”
Braga enjoyed an impressive debut campaign at Tynecastle, scoring 17 goals, and Vrancken accepts the summer window could present an opportunity for the 26-year-old to secure a move.
“It can also be a good thing to show himself again,” he added. “I think for him it can also be a window when he wants to make the transfer.
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“At the same time, when you're a coach, you'd rather have your good players staying with you. But it's also the model, of course, not just at Hearts, but in every team.
“For example, also in Belgium, to make players better so they can make the next step to a big league and get the money for it. That’s also a way to stay healthy as a club.”
While Braga’s future remains uncertain, Vrancken is continuing to assess his squad during pre-season, with Hearts currently working with a 30-man group at their training camp in Spain.
The Belgian has yet to make firm decisions on his squad but admitted he has a clear idea of the ideal number heading into the campaign.
“I think it's best that you go like 26, 27 in total with the goalkeepers in. I think that would be perfect,” he said.
“But like I said, it's difficult to make an evaluation after 45 minutes already.”
