Hearts manager Robbie Neilson has confirmed that he would like to keep Everton forward Ellis Simms and Liverpool midfielder Ben Woodburn at Tynecastle next season, but it could be a matter that is out of his hands.
The Edinburgh club currently has three Premier League players on loan in the Scottish Premier League, with Brighton's Alex Cochrane completing the trio and if given the choice, the Jam Tarts would retain the services of all three players for next season.
Both Everton youngster Simms and Cochrane will remain under contract with their parent clubs, but Woodburn is out of contract with Liverpool in the summer and will become a free agent. The Welsh international's wages could prove a stumbling block to any permanent move however.
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Speaking about Simms in particular, as reported by the Edinburgh Evening News, Neilson said: “I would like to keep him but, with all the loan players, their parent club will make the decision on it. I would like to keep Ellis here, I would like to keep Cochrane, I would like to keep Woodburn here but their parent club will make the decision. It is out of our hands. We have spoken about it but in general with loan deals, especially coming from England, it tends to be July or even August before we get them in. We need to look at other targets and decide. ‘Do we wait for that one or go for this one?’"
Woodburn, now 22, has been at Liverpool since 2016 but has been unable to properly break into the first team set-up. Having previously had loan spells with Sheffield United, Oxford United and Blackpool, he has made 27 appearances for Hearts this season, scoring three goals.
Everton forward Simms moved to Tynecastle on loan in January and has scored five goals in 14 appearances in the Scottish Premier League. His popularity with the club's supporters recently enjoyed a boost after he scored the opener against city rivals Hibernian in a 2-1 win.
