Roberts’ success at Celtic inspires Smith-brown in move to Hearts

● Manchester City prospect hopes loan spell in Scotland will boost his career

at City. “We used to train in the same building, but that all changed since Pep Guardiola’s arrival,” explained Smith-brown. “The 23s are now in the academy centre and that is designed to make you hungry to make the first team.

“But I managed to train with the senior boys before Pep’s arrival a good few times. You see the level that you need to be at to get there and it was good to train alongside the likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva and, in my position, Gael Clichy. They are all top, top players. They make so few mistakes and their decision-making is second to none.

“Of course it is always going to be tough to break into any first-team squad, no matter what team you are at, but you just have to keep believing in yourself. “I wanted to come to Hearts and City felt that this was the right move for me, so both parties are happy. I still have the belief that I can break into the City first team – if you do not have the belief then there is no point in trying.” Following that memorable promotion with NAC Breda – going up via a play-off against NEC Nijmegen – Smith-brown is certain he can handle the pressure of starring for Hearts at a tender age.

“NAC Breda won promotion to the Dutch top flight and there was a big party and the scenes were crazy,” he said. “They should never have been in that league and there was a real, serious expectation to get promoted. That will stand me in good stead now that I am playing for Hearts. I understand the demands of the club and I’m ready.”

It is understood the Gunners are closing in on the signing of the 26-year-old France striker for a reported fee of £44 million.

Lacazette has scored more than 20 goals in Ligue 1 for the last three seasons.

The fee would surpass the £42.4m paid to Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil in 2013.

However, the imminent arrival of Lacazette poses questions over the future of Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud, with Ozil’s situation also uncertain.

Sanchez, whose contract expires in June 2018, has been linked with Manchester City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Speaking at the Confederations Cup, the Chile forward said he knew what his future had in store, but declined to reveal what it entailed.

France striker Giroud has been linked with Everton.