While the winter transfer window clearly presents more challenges than its summer edition, the suggestion that recruiting players at the turn of the year is akin to splitting the atom has never held much water.
Clubs know what’s coming. They know what they need. The pursuit of deals up until the last hour of the last day is wholly unnecessary.
Regardless of how Hearts’ season plays out, no-one will be able to accuse the Tynecastle club of being asleep at the wheel when this month’s window opened.
Derek McInnes knew his side had six games this month, five in the league and a Scottish Cup tie against Falkirk.
They’ve already ticked off a narrow win against Livingston, with Premiership matches against Dundee, St Mirren, Celtic and Dundee United to come.
That’s a lot of football to be played before the faux excitement of transfer deadline day on February 2, Jim White’s yellow ties and all that nonsense. Fifteen points up for grabs which could have a huge bearing on how this bid for the title ends.
Hearts boss Derek McInnes is doing his transfer business early and wisely this month
Tony Bloom has his eye firmly on the ball for Hearts courtesy of Jamestown Analytics
While it’s unreasonable to expect any club to get all their business done while the bells are still chiming, they don’t have to wait until the last minute. They just have to be clear of your their needs, be organised and be ready to hit the button.
Hearts’ acquisition of Jordi Altena from RKC Waalwijk is a case in point. McInnes prioritised the signing of a right-back a couple of months ago. Jamestown Analytics ran the numbers and everyone concerned liked what they saw.
The player was in Edinburgh at the end of the year, was registered on January 1 and made a dream debut against Livi, assisting the only goal of the game for Craig Halkett. Not bad for a player who was playing amateur football with Dutch third tier side De Treffers in 2024.
Provided clubs put the groundwork in, these transfers are only as difficult as they want to make them.
The signing of Islam Chesnokov is another case in point. McInnes had originally wanted to bring the winger in last summer, but was prevented from doing so because the player’s team Tobol Kostany were involved a title fight in his native Kazakhstan
The Gorgie club played the long game by getting the player to sign a pre-contract agreement.
While there was speculation that Chesnokov had offers from elsewhere, he was confirmed as a Hearts player on Tuesday and is in contention to make his debut at Dens Park on Sunday.
It’s not hard to see why the Premiership leaders were keen to get this talent on board. A 22-times capped Kazakhstan international, the left-footed right-sided forward is fast, scores and created goals. He managed to find the net once in every three matches at his previous club.
Without question, the 26-year-old has the experience and the pedigree to turbo-charge Hearts’ title challenge.
Jordi Altena was a star performer for the Premiership leaders on his debut against Livingston
New recruit Altena celebrates his assist in the only goal of the game against the Lions
In a race that already feels too close to call, getting significant signings in the door early might make all the difference.
Others will assuredly follow. Rogers Mato, a goalscoring midfielder, is in the frame, although the Ugandan international’s Macedonian club, FC Varda, are standing firm on a price.
‘We are looking for those support players that can maybe help us add something a bit different,’ said McInnes.
‘We’re mindful we’ve still got a few weeks left, we can react to injuries and things. Obviously, we don’t want that and we’re not hoping for that or anticipating that. But I feel as though we’re in a decent place with the squad.’
Top of the table after 20 games, that’s something of an understatement from the manager.
Throughout this incredible season, it’s been easy to lose sight of just how far the Tynecastle club has come in such a short spell.
On December 6, 2024, they were sitting bottom of the league with 10 points from 15 matches after failing to win any of their eight opening games. From relegation fears to title dreams in the space of a year, the turnaround has been off the charts.
While the increased input of Tony Bloom’s data-crunching Jamestown Analytics company laid the groundwork through the acquisitions of the likes of Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyzaridis, no factor has been more significant that McInnes’ arrival last summer.
Hearts fans are looking forward to seeing Islam Chesnokov make his first appearance, potentially against Dundee on Sunday
A man who knows every blade of grass in the Scottish game, he has coached and cajoled the side to the extent that they have lost just twice in the 20 matches he has been in charge.
He has hit all the right notes whenever the prospect has been raised of his side becoming the first non-Old Firm club since Aberdeen in 1985 to become champions of Scotland.
‘As the games go on, each game will hopefully become bigger,’ he said after the win over Rangers last month. ‘I want us to be relevant. I don’t want us just to see out this season and think of what it could have been.’
Even though his team boast a 100 per cent record in their four games against the Old Firm, McInnes is hardly going to throw a banana skin in his own path by categorically stating that Hearts *will* win the title. Right now, it’s enough for him to imply that they can stay the course.
This measured approach is reflected in the way he and his side have celebrated their many victories. A few hugs and smiles and some applause for the fans. Nothing over-the-top. Always on to the next game.
Their mentality to this point has been admirable. When they conceded a late equaliser against Kilmarnock to go four matches without a win, it was legitimate to question if the wheels were coming off the bogey. They dusted themselves down and beat Celtic, Falkirk and Rangers.
Easter Road on December 27 witnessed a desperate first-half performance in the Edinburgh derby. Hearts clawed back two late goals to make the game interesting but were deservedly beaten 3-2.
Ugandan international Rogers Mato, shown scoring against Nigeria at Africa Cup of Nations, could be next on the list for Hearts in January
Again, it could have sent McInnes’ side into a tailspin. Again, they showed enough chutzpah to bounce back with a win over Livingston. Comparisons with Aberdeen’s fast start of last season ceased to be relevant many weeks ago.
Of course, for all that Hearts can re-establish a six-point gap over Rangers if they win their game in hand, it would be folly to underestimate the scale of the task which lies ahead.
McInnes’ side took 26 points from their opening 10 games, but just 18 from the next 10. Their form has shaded.
From the point where Danny Rohl came in, Rangers have won more points than any side in the country (32). Hearts have accrued 22 in that time, albeit having played a game fewer.
With fresh signings of their own coming in, including Tochi Chukwuani and Tuur Rommens, the Ibrox club will expect to improve further under the German. It’s inconceivable that Celtic won’t also pick up now Martin O’Neill is back in charge.
Delightfully, a season which has already seen more twists and turns than a snake with an itch has yet to come to the boil. No matter how it all unfolds, Hearts will know they gave it their very best shot.
