Heart of Midlothian

Nick Mheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Following a promising second half of the season, Hearts have decided to make Elton Kabangu's loan stay from Union Saint-Gilloise a permanent one.

The Belgian striker was one of the first new faces in the Tynecastle club's data-driven Jamestown Analytics era, finishing the season as second top scorer with eight goals in all competitions.

That is pretty good going given the forward only signed in January and played just 18 games, but what makes his goals tally more impressive is the fact none of them came from the penalty spot.

When you compare that to forwards who have played at least 10 Scottish Premiership games this season, Kabangu's non-penalty-goals average of 0.54 per 90 ranks him in the league's top 10.

Meanwhile, the striker sits ninth for his expected goals tally of 0.5 per 90, and his shot (21%) and big chance (56%) conversion rates also place him high in the Premiership forward rankings.

When you narrow that search down to just Hearts players on a per-90 basis, Kabangu sits top for goals, expected goals and shots on target.

A goals-per-90 average of 0.54 over a 38-game season would accumulate a very healthy return of 19, so now the challenge for the 27-year-old is maintaining that form over the course of an entire campaign under new boss Derek McInnes.

Image source, SNS

Hearts have been drawn alongside Dunfermline, Hamilton, Dumbarton and Stirling Albion in Group E of the 2025-26 Premier Sports Cup.

The tournament will mark Derek McInnes' first game in charge of the Tynecastle club, with the opening fixture on 12-13 July and further matchdays on 15-16 July, 19-20 July, 22-23 July and 26-27 July.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up will Scotland's five European entrants - Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United - in the last 16 on the weekend of 16-17 August.

Hearts were beaten by Falkirk in the second round last season and last lifted the trophy in 1962.

Former Heart of Midlothian head coach Robbie Neilson, who has been out of work since being sacked by Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year, is willing to explore any opportunities to return to management. (PLZ Soccer)

Neilson says he has missed the intensity of Scottish football and is interested in the vacancies at Dundee, Motherwell and Partick Thistle. (Scottish Sun)

Hearts have held initial talks after expressing an interest in German midfielder Soufian El-Faouzi, the 22-year-old who has a year left of his contract with Bundesliga 3 club Alemannia Aachen. (Daily Record)

Hearts are on the verge of finalising a transfer deal with Tobol for Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov, according to the 25-year-old's agent. (Hearts Standard)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.