Hearts close in on Lafferty
● Northern Ireland striker in further talks ● Hibs enter race for ex-norwich forward
Kyle Lafferty will take another 24 hours to contemplate his future, with Hibs having now entered the race to capture the Hearts target.
The Northern Irish striker returned to Edinburgh yesterday for more signing talks with Hearts as he continues to ponder his next move.
He spent a day with club officials last week along with his Scottish wife, Vanessa. But the 29-year-old, out of contract after being released by Norwich City, is thinking carefully where to seek to re-ignite his club career following interest from Hibs, managed by compatriot Neil Lennon.
Lennon also made moves to sign the striker, then out of favour at Norwich City, when he was manager at Bolton Wanderers in late 2015.
Although Lafferty has endured a disappointing club career in recent times he has continued to prove his worth with the Northern Ireland international side, whose Edinburgh-based manager Michael O’neill would welcome the player settling at either top-flight capital club.
But Hearts, where O’neill’s No 2 Austin Macphee is assistant manager, are believed to be currently leading the chase. Macphee has been heavily involved in discussions to bring Lafferty back to Scotland, where the striker enjoyed a four-year spell with Rangers.
He then moved onto si on and then Palermo before signing a three-year deal with Norwich City, where he failed to establish himself. He spent further spells on loan at Turkish side Caykur Rizespor and Birmingham City.
One of Lafferty’s Northern Ireland team-mates joined him in Edinburgh yesterday. Michael Smith, a right-back, is edging closer to a move to Hearts after being shown around the club’s training facilities yesterday afternoon.
Smith has played once for the Northern Ireland international side and has been with Peterborough United since 2014, making 133 appearances for the club.
Hearts head coach Ian Cathro is looking to replace Callum Paterson, who joined Cardiff City earlier this summer.
But, despite Smith having fallen out of favour at Peterborough, Hearts would be expected to pay a fee for the 28-year-old, who signed a new three-year deal as recently as last summer.
Cathro also looks to have solved his left-back problem with Manchester City defender Ashley Smith-brown set to arrive at Hearts later this week.
The 21-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Dutch club NAC Breda, will join up with his new team-mates at Riccarton once contractual