Hearts have launched an ambitious bid to bring teenage Australia star Garang Kuol to Tynecastle.
The highly rated 18-year-old winger, who played for the Socceroos at the World Cup, recently joined English Premier League club Newcastle United from A-League side Central Coast Mariners.
His substitute appearance against Argentina in the last-16 made him the youngest player to play in a World Cup knockout stage game since Pele in 1958.
Hearts are now hoping they can lure him to the Premiership on-loan with the opportunity to play regular first team football.
Newcastle are willing to let the player move on loan but it is believed Robbie Neilson will face competition from the English Championship to secure his signature.
Kuol’s international teammates Kye Rowes, Nathaniel Atkinson and Cameron Devlin all play for Hearts.
Neilson’s men are currently third in the Premiership following Monday’s Edinburgh derby victory over Hibernian.
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