Hearts now ready to deal in Damour as Whelan interest cools

HEARTS expect to complete the signing of Cardiff City midfielder Loic Damour on a permanent deal in time for their Premiership clash against Ross County. The 28-year-old was initially offered to the capital side on a season-long loan after falling out of favour at the Bluebirds, with reports suggesting those terms were all but agreed. However, the clubs were locked in talks last night as Hearts pushed to secure the former France Under-20 international outright. That would require Cardiff to either annul the final year of Damour’s contract or accept a modest fee for his services, with Hearts not in a position to pay a significant transfer sum. Nevertheless, sources close to the discussions were confident an agreement will be struck. Damour arrived in Edinburgh last night for advanced contract talks and, barring any unforeseen hitches, will become their fifth summer signing. Should the move be completed, he could make a whirlwind debut against the Highlanders at Tynecastle tomorrow. There was interest in Damour from his homeland, where he has previously turned out for Strasbourg, Boulogne and Frejus Saint-Raphael, but the player wanted to remain in British football. Damour joined Cardiff from Bourg-Peronnas in the summer of 2017 after shining in Ligue 2. He made 32 appearances in his maiden campaign for the club, helping the Welsh outfit win promotion to the Premier League. However, he played just four times for Neil Warnock’s side last term, with just two of those outings in the top flight — thrown on as a late substitute against Fulham and Liverpool. Warnock informed Damour — a teammate of ex-Hearts favourite Callum Paterson at Cardiff — that he was surplus to requirements for the coming season. Craig Levein has made the capture of a combative midfielder his top priority after Peter Haring was sidelined for two months due to a pelvis complaint and Arnaud Djoum departed the club for Saudi side Al-Raed. The capture of Damour is likely to see Hearts cool their interest in Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan, with whom they held discussions last week.