Alexandros Kyziridis to depart Hearts
Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken has confirmed the club have accepted a bid for winger Alexandros Kyziridis. Kyziridis arrived last season on a free transfer from Slovenian side NS Mura as one of Jamestown analytic’s first signings. The winger provided four goals and seven assists during his season in maroon. The Greek has been subject to speculation for a number of weeks now and it seems he will move closer to home as he closes in on a move to Turkey for a reported £1,700,000. Speaking after his sides win over Dundee United Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken said: “We accepted a bit for Alex. “I think it’s a good deal for him, for sure.But also for the club, when he comes in for nothing and goes with a good bit. “It’s also a transfer window. When the transfer window is open, it’s part of football.” The club have already added a number of wingers this summer with Josh McPake and Calvin Miller netting their first goals in maroon today. Sabah Kertoja also looks to be a bigger part of Hearts’ plans this season. Speaking on his options out wide, Vrancken said: “I’m happy to see it. Everybody has to feel to take their chance. “Everybody has to be ready to take their chances. I think both wingers (McPake and Sabah Kerjota) did well today. “We still have Sabri (Guendouz) there, he also can play there. Cal Miller, who is playing full-back, of course. “They showed that they are ready, so I’m happy to see that.”
“I spoke to him in the summer, we tried to bring him to Dundee United”- Jim Goodwin makes transfer admission following Hearts defeat
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin branded his side’s 4-0 loss at Tynecastle ’embarrassing’, but also admitted that the scoreline wasn’t entirely a fair reflection of the match. In a fixture where the away side had won five of the last six prior to today, it was clear from early on that the trend wouldn’t continue. Goodwin also admitted that the scorer of Hearts’ first goal, Tom Renaud is someone who had been on his radar prior to the midfielder arriving in Edinburgh, even if he said a deal to bring him to Dundee United was never close. The Irishman was full of praise for Renaud and his goal, he said: “It’s a wonder goal from Tom Renaud from 40-yards, that can happen during the season. He’s a player that we know well. Obviously, I spoke to him in the summer, we tried to bring him to Dundee United, so we knew the ability that the player has got from that type of situation.” Dundee United went into the break 2-0 down, which led to Goodwin bringing on forward Zac Sapsford in place of Emmanuel Agyei, but this seemed to only further open the door for Hearts. Goodwin said: “We take off Agyei, who’s a defensive-minded midfielder, we bring on Sapsford and we spoke about the importance of the next goal, if we get it back to 2-1 then it’s game on again, and you know, we had two or three half chances at 2-0. “Sapsford gets played through, he’s unfortunate he can’t get the ball out of his feet. We have another opportunity from a long throw but we weren’t able to capitalise on these situations. I think the difference between the two sides today was in the final third. “Hindsight is a great thing, you know. Maybe we could have delayed making the decision, left Agyei on there. Hearts had two central midfielders in there as well, so we felt we could cope with that. We just thought at half-time we had to try and make changes that were going to get us back into the game.” Left-back Will Ferry has been linked with a move away from the club, but Goodwin is adamant that the arrival of Rangers academy product Kevin Ciubotaru isn’t a compensation for any potential transfer. He said: “I think he’s very similar to Will Ferry in a lot of ways. We’ve rode our luck at times in the last couple of seasons without having a great deal of cover in that left-back area. “I know obviously people will speculate, put two and two together and make up five, but he’s not coming in to be a Will Ferry replacement. We always needed a left back, it was the one area of the pitch we didn’t really have any cover in. I think we’ve got good strength in depth in all the other positions. “Kevin’s a terrific young player. He;’s obviously been in Scotland before, he knows what the league entails and he feels he’s got a bit of unfinished business. So he’ll be pushing Will Ferry for the time he’s here. If something happens in the transfer window in the next few weeks, then we’ve got a really good replacement for him.” United’s next fixture sees them host Celtic in the League Cup on Saturday, Goodwin acknowledged it’s a tough task, but is adamant his side still stands a chance, he said: “It’s an opportunity to get through to the quarter-final of the League Cup. The players know exactly what’s at stake. We’re not going to change in terms of approach to the game, in terms of how we want to be as a team. But certainly, we need to make better decisions in those big moments. “It’s obviously going to take a bit of getting over this one. We’ll do what we always do in terms of our debrief tomorrow and then it’ll all be about preparing for the next one.”
Scottish striker in line for Sevilla move
Rangers academy product Robbie Ure is set to join Sevilla from Swedish side Sirius. Ure came through the Rangers academy and made his debut for the Ibrox side in 2022. Chances were hard to come by after that, which led to the striker joining Anderlecht reserves. The striker has been at Swedish side Sirius since March of last year and has scored 15 goals in as many games as Sirius currently top this year’s Allsvenskan. The 22-year-old who is still uncapped for Scotland and despite also being eligible for Ukraine. He has stated he prefers to wait for the call from the country he was born and raised in. Reports from Fabrizio Romano suggest that Ure will sign for Sevilla on a five-year deal, with a medical booked for early next week in a deal worth just shy of £7,000,000.
Vrancken seals first win in style: Hearts 4-0 Dundee United
New Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken secured in his first in charge of Hearts as his side dismantled Dundee United 4-0 at Tynecastle Park. It was a fast start at Tynecastle as Hearts midfielder Tom Renaud beat Jack Walton with an excellent strike from range in the opening minutes to score his second goal in as many games. Hearts continued to apply pressure in the opening 10 minutes as Claudio Braga went close. They then had a penalty appeal as Jamie McCart looked to be fouled in the box. Referee Kevin Clancy pointed to the spot after going to the monitor and Calvin Miller had no issue converting from the spot to put Hearts two goals up within 12 minutes. Following Miller’s goal, Dundee United would slightly grow into the game, but faced issues breaking down Hearts’ defence. United’s first chance of the afternoon fell to Lachlan Rose in the 25th minute, but his header was deflected wide for a corner. The ball fell perfectly to United captain Dylan Tait on the edge of the box moments later, but his shot was also blocked. Hearts went close to adding a third on the half-hour mark as Amadou Ba-Sy forced Walton to save from distance. Hearts retained possession as Braga struck the post. Tom Renaud was first to pounce on the loose ball, but failed to convert the rebound. United would go up the park, but Rose’s headed effort was once again deflected for a corner. Rose was pulled up for a foul on Sabah Kertoja short before half-time, going Ba-Sy and Daniel Bennie in the referee’s book. United were straight out the traps in the second half as substitute Zac Sapsford carried the ball forward, he laid the ball off for Australian compatriot Rose, but his tame effort was blocked. United continued their early second half pressure as the fans appealed for a penalty but VAR did not award a spot-kick. Moments later Hearts had their third as Claudio Braga cooly finished into the bottom corner. Three nearly became four as Kertoja drifted past Will Ferry in the box, but his one-on-one was brilliantly saved by Walton. Josh McPake netted Hearts’ fourth after playing a one-two with Braga, the winger then displayed an excellent first-time finish to Walton’s far post. He joined Calvin Miller in netting his first Hearts goal this afternoon. Hearts didn’t let United off the hook in th quest for a fifth as Braga’s close range effort was saved by Walton 15 minutes from time. United went close to a consolation goal in the closing stages, but Idjessi Metsoko failed to latch onto Sapsford’s cross at the back post. Jim Goodwin’s side proceed to have a handful of half chances, but none bothered Beau Reus in the Hearts net. Hearts will look to carry this form on Thursday night as they host Benfica in the Europa League third round qualifier, where the currently trail 6-1. As for United, it’s an afternoon to forget in the capital and it’s no small task up next as they host Celtic in the League Cup on Saturday. Hearts: Reus, Altena (Borchgrevink 73′), McEntee, McCart, Miller, Spittal, Renaud (Magnusson 64′), Kertoja, Braga (Wilson 83′), McPake (Mato 73′), Ba-Sy (Kabore 64′) Unused substitues: Fulton, Guendouz, Kayson-Kamara, Mendy, Wilson Dundee United: Walton, Rawlins, Esselink, Forbes, Ferry, Sevelj (Camara 73′), Tait, Agyei (Sapsford 46′), Randall (Farrugia 73′), Rose (Metsoko 60′), Bennie (Merghem 60′) Unused substitues: Eskesen, Graham, Iovu, Amissah
Wouter Vrancken eyes first win as Tynecastle boss: Hearts v Dundee United match preview
Hearts return to Tynecastle Park today at 3pm to host Dundee United on match day 2 in the Scottish Premiership. Life for Hearts under new boss Wouter Vrancken hasn’t got off to the start it did under Derek McInnes, with the Belgian losing his opening four matches. His side were beaten 2-1 at Pittodrie last week despite leading 1-0 in stoppage time. They come into this one on the back of a 6-1 thrashing to Benfica on Thursday night. As for Dundee United, they enter this match fresh from an impressive draw to Derek McInnes’ Rangers side on opening day. New striker Lachlan Rose has scored four goals in his opening six matches for United. New Hearts signing Sabri Guendouz spoke on Vrancken’s tactics after Thursday’s defeat in Lisbon, he said: “When we follow the plan, the team are good. If we win against Dundee United it will be good for our heads, for our feelings. It will help our confidence and it will be good for the preparation for the next game against Benfica and the next games in the league after that. “This is just the beginning. It has been difficult with the preparation we have had and the short time we have had to work with the manager. But now the season has started and we have to start winning games.” Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin said: “If we can play the way we did against Rangers, with the same organisation, intensity and quality, then I think we will give ourselves a chance in any game we go into. The most important thing for us is being competitive every time we take to the pitch and, ultimately, we always want to win.” Hearts enjoyed an unbeaten run at home in the league last season, but this fixture has been won by the away side in five of the past six occasions, with United unbeaten in their last three trips to Gorgie. Reports suggest Will Ferry could soon leave the club with Blackburn Rovers and Anderlecht interested in the Irishman. Goodwin looks to have preemptively accounted for Ferry’s departure by adding 22-year-old Romanian left-back Kevin Ciobotaru on Friday. It’s a fixture that promises goals, with United failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 17 fixtures on the road. Hearts last failed to score at home in the league in April 2025, the 1-0 loss to Dundee saw Neil Critchley sacked.
McLeish hopes to create “relentless” St Mirren
Craig McLeish wants St Mirren to become “really good at the basics” after making it two wins out of two to start their league campaign. Killian Phillips converted a 73rd-minute penalty to secure a 1-0 victory over newly promoted St Johnstone, sending the Saints to the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Following the hard-fought win, McLeish emphasised his desire to “keep building” on their impressive early momentum. “Delighted for the group, a really good, hard-fought win. A lot of our performance was good; we just had to add a bit more intensity to our performance in the first half. The victory came down to two penalty kicks, and after Jacob Chapman foiled Jamie Gullan from 12 yards, Phillips showed composure to convert past Toby Steward to the delight of the home faithful. “We were quite comfortable without troubling them too much. We stepped it up a bit in the second half. We got away with one when Jacob made a fantastic save for the penalty. “Then we converted our own penalty, so it was fine margins. Games are going to be like that for us, and we have to show that fight and resilience. Our energy and how we pressed at the end, we could have scored a couple on the counter; that was really pleasing. “We have to be horrible to play against. Two clean sheets set us up well for that. The attacking bit, a few bits didn’t quite click in the final third to create real, clear-cut opportunities. When we counterattack, we do it at speed, and we look dangerous. Replacing the experienced Stephen Robinson with a youthful coach carrying limited top-flight experience was widely viewed as a bold gamble by St Mirren. Yet, after successfully navigating the relegation playoffs last season, McLeish is now stamping his identity on the Saints. While they are playing a more attractive brand of football, the team’s core identity remains unchanged – to outwork your opponent. “Those are standards that we set from day one of pre-season. How quickly do we get back into shape, everyone doing it and joining in. We want to be really good at the basics and not get bored of that. “The running, energy and desire. We want to be fit and strong and relentless this season against whoever we play. We have to keep those standards really high. We did it last week and lived up to it again today. “It helps with the belief in each other. I’ve said to the boys I have confidence in them. Last season, we had two horrendous play-off games – even the emotion about it, there were so many nerves when we stepped on the pitch. “I’m still using that as fuel; I don’t want to be involved in that. We’ve got a massive journey ahead of us, and we have to keep building. Six points out of six is a great start.” That prolific start will instil massive belief across the entire club, from players and staff to the boardroom and supporters, as they head to Ibrox next Sunday for their toughest test yet in the League Cup last 16.