Steven Naismith: Alex Cochrane sale won't impact summer transfer budget

Hearts manager Steven Naismith insists the imminent departure of Alex Cochrane from Tynecastle won’t have a big impact on their transfer budget.

The 24-year-old left-back is in talks over a seven-figure switch to Birmingham City with the deal expected to be completed over the next few days.

But with the arrival of James Penrice already secured and with other left sided players, including the likes of Stephen Kingsley already at the club, Naismith doesn’t see any need to rush out for a replacement.

And he is confident the club are prepared to back him if the right player becomes available regardless of the Cochrane move.

When asked about the Englishman’s potential move to the Midlands, Naismith said: “It’s in the works, I have no different comment to make on that from last week, he’s speaking to them and I presume a medical and all the legal side of things will take place over the next few days.

“I don’t expect there to be any change to that, all round it is a football-business decision that makes sense.

“Every club in Scotland are in that bracket where if good offers come in for any of your players then they have to be considered.

“I think it’s a good model and one that us as a club haven’t been good enough at in previous years, but Alex was someone who was identified, came in, he improved and he helped improve Hearts and this is the outcome of that, so it is a good deal for everybody.

“I don’t think this transfer will make any big difference to that (our budget), every conversation we’ve had with the club has been if we identify a player that we think is the one and who is a good prospect then the club say they will back that and go for it.

“So I don’t think that one sale means we have a pot of money now, that’s not how it works, so we are comfortable with that, we always trying to identify the right players, we’ve brought in six or seven so far this summer so I think that shows we are trying to do our business as quick as we can.”