Hearts have beaten Rangers and Kilmarnock to the signing of Steven Naismith, according to a reliable journalist.
Sky Sports News correspondent Keith Downie reported on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon that the Norwich striker will travel to Edinburgh on Thursday for a medical and to complete the paperwork of the transfer.
Hearts have pipped Rangers & Kilmarnock to the signing of Scotland international Steven Naismith. The striker will travel to Edinburgh for a medical and to complete the paperwork tomorrow.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) January 17, 2018
Sky Sports Scotland reported on their Twitter account that Naismith will move to Tynecastle on loan for the rest of the season.
TRANSFER NEWS
Sky sources understand Hearts have beaten Rangers and Kilmarnock to the signing of Norwich forward Steven Naismith on a loan deal until the end of the season. #SSN pic.twitter.com/nwUws3W87U— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 17, 2018
Naismith joined Norwich from Everton for £9million in January 2016 but he has slipped down the pecking order at Carrow Road this season, making just three appearances in all competitions and has not played since August.
He is in line to make his Hearts debut in the Scottish Cup clash with Hibs on Sunday.
OPINION
A fringe player at Norwich this season due to an injury that sidelined him for two months and the team’s preference for other forward options, but Naismith is far from over the hill. The forward is mobile, committed and has an eye for goal. He would be a brilliant replacement for Kenny Miller, who is set for a lengthy absence with a torn hamstring and is increasingly likely to leave Ibrox in the summer summer. But Hearts appear to have won the race for Naismith after Rangers secured a loan signing of their own this week in Jason Cummings. If Naismith rips it up at Tynecastle, there could well be a clamour for Rangers to make a summer move for him, especially if things do not work out with Cummings, who has initially joined on a loan until the end of the season.