Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is looking to bring in at least FIVE more summer signings as he looks to increase his first-team squad size from 21 to 23 for next season.
The Tynecastle club will be juggling domestic and European football next term after securing guaranteed group stage football. The Jambos enter the Europa League play-off round and are just potentially 180 minutes from a spot in the competition proper. However, defeat at this stage and they will parachute into the Europa Conference League group stages.
Hearts have so far signed up Alan Forrest, Kye Rowles and Lewis Neilson during this window but boss Neilson is determined to add more bodies to his pool and has identified five key areas of his team that he is looking to recruit in after admitting he wants his business done early.
READ MORE: Hearts star Liam Boyce 'wanted' by Aberdeen and Ipswich as duo eye transfer raid on Jambos
The Gorgie outfit finished in third spot in the Premiership last season behind Celtic and Rangers and also reached the Scottish Cup Final as they secured their European adventure for this season in a stunning return to the top flight.
Hearts are believed to be closing in on deals for Jorge Grant and Alex Cochrane but doubts have been casted over a potential move for Lawrence Shankland with his club side Beerschot insisting he's not for sale.
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Speaking to Edinburgh Evening News, Neilson said: “We are still looking to get another defender in for the right-hand side.
"We brought Lewis Neilson in, he will get game time and he is a player we want to develop. We are still looking to recruit in that area as well.
“We still have a couple of areas we want to strengthen in. We are looking for a striker, a couple of guys who can play the No.10 role, plus a central midfielder. There are quite a few areas.
“The aim is to increase the squad size. We ran with a first-team group of 21 last year so we want to get that number of to 23.
"That would then allow us to bring in a few younger players who will predominantly be in the B team but will train with us during the day.”
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