Hearts poised to sign up Bosnian
Hearts appear to have won the race to sign Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder Mirsad Beslija.
The Scottish Premier League title contenders have reached agreement with the 26-year-old international winger's Belgian side, Racing Genk.
Sunderland and Leeds United were also believed to be interested in Beslija.
He must pass a medical with the Edinburgh club before signing what the Genk official website claims is a three-and-a-half-year agreement.
Beslija said: "I don't know any of the Hearts players at the moment, but I know of good players in the Scottish league like Thomas Buffel and Dado Prso. Maybe the next one can be me. "I have much admiration for the English league and I see Scotland as a step in between Belgium and England.
"Hearts is a club who could be playing in the Champions League or Uefa Cup, which is a big bonus for me."
Beslija joined Genk in 2001 from Bosnian outfit Zeljeznicar and has made 118 appearances for the club.
He has 39 caps for his country, scoring four goals.
The Bosnian's agent, Sam Stapleton, revealed on Friday that Hearts had made an offer and Hearts manager Graham Rix admitted he was frustrated the news had got out.
"So many things can go wrong and, until it happens, I don't want to put the club or the players under unnecessary pressure," he told the Hearts website.
"He is a good player - there is no doubt about that."
Rix believes Beslija has the pedigree to succeed in the SPL.
"He is an international who knows what he is doing. If it all works out - and all things being equal, as they say - he will be a good addition to the team."
Hearts' interest was made public by Stapleton on Friday.
"Hearts have made an offer to buy the player with Sunderland and Leeds also looking at the option of a loan," he said.
"He's one of the quickest players in Belgium and I'm not surprised that he is generating some interest."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4588476.stm