Hearts are set to sign Georgian international Gogita Gogua.
The 23-year-old is understood to have flown into Edinburgh at the weekend and
is likely to join the Tynecastle club until the end of the season with a view to
getting a longer-term deal.
Gogua, a versatile defensive midfielder who often plays left-back for his
country, played for Russian side Spartak Nalchick last season and was voted the
league's best newcomer of 2006.
But now he is likely to be added to the foreign contingent at Tynecastle.
Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas said: 'We've been watching Gogua for a
long time and believe he can strengthen Hearts.
'He will play for us until the end of the current season, and then both sides
will decide whether his contract should be extended. This arrangement suits the club and Gogua.
'He needs to adapt to a new environment, he needs time to see if he likes it
and time to establish himself in the Hearts team.'
Gogua, who could feature against Scotland in the next 2008 Euro qualifier in
March, walked out on Spartak Nalchik when he discovered he was not being paid as
much as his team-mates.
But the Georgian is adamant playing football is uppermost in his mind.
He said: 'It doesn't matter where I play - I just want regular football. I'd like to perform for a serious club where I would be able to win medals
or take part in European competitions.'
