London club make an approach for the Scotland forward
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have approached Hearts about a stunning move for teenage striker James Wilson. Both London clubs are interested in an initial loan deal for the 18-year-old, who has struggled for regular first-team action at Tynecastle Park this season. Talks are expected to continue in an effort to conclude an agreement before tonight’s transfer deadline, however there is no certainty one will materialise.
The Edinburgh News understands there is still negotiating to be done and Arsenal must push the move through if they want Wilson before the English transfer window closes at 7pm tonight. The Scottish window shuts at 11pm. Spurs declared their interest and are also working on a deal for Wilson. Hearts are not against letting the Riccarton academy graduate leave on loan, even though captain Lawrence Shankland is injured. They are searching for a striker themselves but head coach Derek McInnes was not hopeful of signing one before tonight’s deadline.
Hearts must decide what is the best loan move for Wilson’s development with other clubs also interested in the teenager. St Johnstone had been keen to take him to McDiarmid Park earlier in the campaign and other Scottish clubs are also monitoring him. Saints have a co-operation agreement with Hearts and already have Adam Forrester on loan until the end of the season. He can be recalled as many times as his parent club wish thanks to co-operation loan rules.
Wilson’s Hearts contract runs until 2027. He is keen to play more regularly at first-team level and that would be extremely unlikely should he move to Arsenal or Tottenham. The English Premier League clubs’ interest is more of a long-term plan to bring the player to London and develop him in the years to come. The forward himself would ideally like to continue playing senior, competitive football to enhance his game, but the lure of England’s top flight is extremely tempting for Wilson.
Arsenal and Spurs both want any loan agreement to include the option of a permanent transfer this summer. Wilson is already a Scotland internationalist after coming through the Hearts youth development system. He made his first appearance for his country last March against Greece at Hampden Park and is highly regarded by a number of top clubs across Britain. Should he leave Hearts, he will be determined to make sure he can play at the highest level possible. He would not go straight into the first team at any of the two London sides and would initially play at under-21 level.
Wilson has managed 10 appearances for Hearts so far this season but remains down the pecking order when it comes to attacking places. Shankland, Landry Kabore, Claudio Braga and Elton Kabangu are all ahead of the young Scot. He started three of the Edinburgh club’s four League Cup group stage matches in July last year, but since then he has only made the starting line-up once. That was against Motherwell in August. He is eager to find an option that grants him more game time.
Hearts will continue their own striker search up until the transfer window closes. McInnes stated after Saturday’s win at Dundee United that he was not confident of bringing in another forward in such a short space of time. Tynecastle officials are also aware of some clubs monitoring winger Alan Forrest ahead of the deadline.
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