Latest news with #Chesnokov
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Islam Chesnokov sees Hearts transfer hijack plot emerge as Russians have secret ploy to force Tynecastle U turn
Krylia Sovetov boss Magomed Adiev was coy over an attempt to snatch the man he gave an international debut to from the Jambos Krylia Sovetov are plotting to hijack Hearts ' move for Islam Chesnokov despite him already having agreed a switch to Tynecastle The Kazakhstan international has penned a pre-contract with the capital club but protracted negotiations to bring him to Edinburgh before his FC Tobol deal runs out in October are ongoing. However, ambitious top flight club Krylia Sovetov still believe they can convince Chesnokov to ditch the Jambos and sign from them instead, according to reports in Russia. The fact they are managed by Magomed Adiev - the former Kazakhstan boss who handed Chesnokov his international debut two years ago - is giving them hope that the winger will go back on his word to Hearts and rejoin his old manager. Adiev said: "Chesnokov is an interesting footballer for many teams, including us. Let's see what happens with him." The 25-year-old was advised by former Rangers star Andrei Kanchelskis to sign for Hearts and use it as a stepping stone for a move to English football or even Celtic. And new Hearts boss Derek McInnes admitted Chesnokov's arrival was out of his hands. He explained: "He's obviously signed the pre-contract. But their season runs on, so we're not fully in charge of that situation. "His team don't want to lose him at this stage of the season because they'll be at the business end of theirs. "We have a plan to deal with it, if we get him great, if we don't, we will maybe just look to bring him in in January instead. We are trying to be as patient as we can, but ideally, we'd get him in this window.' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Scotsman
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Islam Chesnokov's Hearts transfer hits deadlock as Derek McInnes explains his fear
The Kazakhstan winger has signed a pre-contract to move to Scotland Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Whilst Hearts remain keen to strike a deal for the Kazakhstani winger Islam Chesnokov this summer, head coach Derek McInnes fears he will need to wait longer. Chesnokov signed a pre-contract to join the Edinburgh club in November after his Tobol Kostanay contract expires and McInnes is now planning around that probability. He is confident that the 25-year-old is worth waiting for and believes he can make an impact whenever he arrives in Scotland. Hearts tried to sign Chesnokov in January this year but Tobol rejected their offer. Having agreed the pre-contract, Tynecastle officials want a transfer as soon as possible before the summer window closes. That would avoid Chesnokov arriving in November and being unable to register as a Hearts player until the January transfer window opens. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Although the player is ready to make the move, Tobol are resisting Hearts' attempts to reach an agreement. Chesnokov is their star player and they want to keep him as long as possible while they challenge for the Kazakhstani Premier League title. They currently sit six points behind leaders Astana after 13 matches but have two games in hand. Chesnokov has scored six goals and claimed two assists in the league so far this season. The current timeline for his switch to Scotland is November and McInnes is working on the assumption that is not going to change. 'We're no further forward,' he explained at Hearts' pre-season training base in Spain. 'There's a wee bit of an impasse where he's still a key player for his current team and I don't think they're actively encouraging offers from us to get him. It's not as if they're teasing us or anything with an offer. It needs to be more. We're not really getting that sort of dialogue. 'My fear is that they maybe want him to stay at the end of their campaign, pushing him down the line for us. But I think he's worth waiting for. We've done a pre-contract, we might need to wait a bit longer for that, unfortunately. Hopefully we can still find a way.' New Hearts transfer target before season 2025/26 starts? Hearts are likely to sign another right-sided winger for the start of the new Premiership season if negotiations on Chesnokov do not progress. 'The priority was a bit more pace, players happier playing in wide areas and a bit more physicality,' added McInnes. 'I still think, while we're getting there, we're still a bit short of that at the minute.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The club have already brought in six players so far this summer in the shape of Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis, Belgian striker Elton Kabangu, Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee, Portuguese striker Claudio Braga and Scottish centre-back Stuart Findlay. McInnes explained on Tuesday that talks to re-sign striker Lawrence Shankland had also reached a stalemate. Again, if that situation does not change then at least one more forward is likely to arrive. Asked about other signing targets in Shankland's position, McInnes replied: 'Yeah, we've probably stepped that up, but we were looking at alternatives. You try and cover every eventuality and that's what we've got to continue to do. 'From a football point of view, I've said about how beneficial Lawrence would be for us and how much we're really keen to get him. But as a manager, you don't always get what you want and you sometimes just have to accept that. I think that while it's not a 'no' we've got to try and still live in hope, but I do think as the days go by it's becoming a bit more challenging with the fact he's not here [in Spain] already.'
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Islam Chesnokov to Hearts transfer latest as Derek McInnes reveals timeline talks
The Kazakh winger has agreed a pre-contract but Derek McInnes wants him now Hearts boss Derek McInnes says he's desperate to get Kazakh winger Islam Chesnokov to Gorgie before the start of the SPFL season. But the Tynecastle gaffer admits he might have to look at different options if the 25-year-old doesn't arrive in Edinburgh early. Chesnokov has signed a pre-contract deal with Hearts but his current deal at Tobol doesn't expire until October 31. The Kazakhstan Premier League is up and running, with his team challenging for a league title. McInnes and Hearts' recruitment team are trying to find an agreement which would allow Chesnokov to join the club early. If they can't, they wouldn't be able to register their new signing until the January transfer window. McInnes is keen to work with Chesnokov and sees him as a key player in the wide right position. But if a deal can't be struck before the start of the Scottish Premiership campaign, the Jambos boss insists he'll be forced to look at alternatives in that position. He said: 'The recruitment team are due to speak to Islam. He's obviously signed the pre-contract. 'But their season runs on so we're not fully in charge of that situation. 'His team don't want to lose him at this stage of the season because they'll be at the business end of theirs. "I've said to the club I'd like him in as quickly as possible if we can find a solution. I had a good chat with Islam myself last Wednesday. 'We have a plan to deal with it, if we get him great, if we don't we will maybe just look to bring him in in January instead. 'We are trying to be as patient as we can but ideally we'd get him in this window.'
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts transfer work continues as Uchenna Ogundu agrees deal in Turkey - Islam Chesnokov & Lawrence Shankland
The Nigerian forward is close to signing for Alanyaspor but Chesnokov and Shankland are ongoing Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Nigerian forward Uchenna Ogundu is set to stay in Turkey following transfer interest from various European clubs, including Hearts. The 19-year-old has a preliminary agreement to join Turkish Super Lig side Alanyaspor on a five-year contract after his exit from second division Sanliurfaspor. He is due for a medical there today. However, the decision will not deter Tynecastle officials in their attempts to strengthen attacking options. Head coach Derek McInnes regards signing a right-sided wide player a priority, with protracted negotiations for the Kazakhstan internationalist Islam Chesnokov still ongoing. Hearts have other targets for that position and are willing to move on alternatives in case Chesnokov's move does not reach a conclusion. As things stand, they are still determined to bring him to Edinburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Tobol Kostanay player, 25, has scored five goals and claimed two assists from 12 appearances in the Kazakhstan Premier League so far this season. That includes a goal and an assist in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Zhetysu. Tobol are challenging for the league title and are reluctant to let Chesnokov, their star player, leave midway through the campaign. They are currently third in the table, six points behind leaders FC Astana with two games in hand. Chesnokov is out of contract in October and willing to sign a pre-contract agreement to join Hearts at that point. However, Tynecastle officials want a quick deal this summer to avoid him arriving outwith a transfer window and being unable to register with the Scottish Football Association until January. They are willing to pay a fee to make that happen. Ogundu was a target identified by Hearts' recruitment data partner, Jamestown Analytics. He impressed with Sanliurfaspor during the second half of last season and attracted interest from Super Lig clubs Fenerbahce, Alanyaspor and Samsunspor. Hull City, Sturm Graz, Fortuna Sittard and Gornik Zabrze also monitored him. He moved to Turkey last August from Diamond Academy in his native Nigeria, scoring six goals and claiming two assists in 19 appearances for Sanliurfaspor after making his senior debut in January. His performances captured attention from scouts and his data ranked well with Jamestown. He is now preparing to continue his career in Turkey after reaching a verbal agreement with Alanyaspor over the weekend. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lawrence Shankland's Hearts future talks Hearts remain in discussions with striker Lawrence Shankland, whose future remains undecided after his Tynecastle contract expired earlier this week. McInnes has spoken with the Scotland internationalist several times, the latest being just a few days ago, in an effort to convince him to stay. Other clubs in Britain and abroad have been in contact with Shankland's representatives. 'Lawrence has obviously got a lot to consider,' said McInnes in an interview with Sky Sports. 'We think we're a really strong option for him whether we're the best option in Lawrence's eyes, we've got to wait and see. But there'll come a point really that we need to draw a line under it and Lawrence has got to look after him and I've got to look after Hearts. Hopefully, we can find a solution because he is a player that I think can really thrive with us at Hearts. 'He's shown in the time here how important he is and you try and not let players like that leave the door without putting up the best fight you can and we're in the fight for him. I believe we're a really strong option for Lawrence. I believe we're the best option for him at this moment. He's got the World Cup to try and get involved in at the end of next season. If he can go score 25, at least 25 goals next season and I think it's a safe bet he'd be going to the World Cup with Scotland, so hopefully there's loads of reasons why Lawrence could see this as a good option for him. 'I always feel deadlines are not always healthy, they can sometimes be a bit antagonistic. There's been enough conversations with Lawrence. I'm due to speak to him again today and we'll see where we go with it. There will come a point where he has to move on and try and secure his future and likewise I need to make sure that we secure our squad going forward but we're not at that stage yet but sooner rather than later really to try and get that resolved because I want clarity in what I'm dealing with. I'm sure Lawrence is wanting clarity on his future as well.'
Scotsman
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Islam Chesnokov addresses Hearts transfer links as uncertainty remains
He has emerged as a target for Hearts this summer and has provided his take on the links to Gorgie. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Islam Chesnokov has provided his take on where he stands with regards a move to Hearts this summer. The winger is one of a few players the Jambos are looking at this summer. Wideman Daniel Arzani is also on the radar as he comes out of contract at Melbourne Victory while head coach Derek McInnes wants to reunite with defender Stuart Findlay, who he worked with at Kilmarnock. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts have been linked with a move for the Kazakhstan international since the winter transfer period but nothing was agreed with his club, FC Tobol. They have already been busy in the market and are set to do more business over the course of the window. Hearts transfer target on his future After playing in Kazakhstan's 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier this week, Chesnokov was too despondent to discuss the transfer links in depth, but admitted he was none the wiser to whether he would become a Hearts player or not. Chesnokov has been capped 13 times by Kazakhstan and scored his first goals for his country with a double during victory over San Marino in 2024. He said: 'I don't want to comment any more about Hearts right now. Nothing is confirmed. If something happens, I am sure it will be announced. Right now, I am too disappointed and upset about this loss to talk about my future.' The player's representative, Yaroslav Zvarych, spoke to the Evening News in January as negotiations with Hearts emerged. 'There is interest from Hearts. We are currently in the process of deciding many things because we have a lot of offers,' he said. 'Islam is one of the most talented players in Kazakhstan and we are working on the next step with the transfer window open. We are currently in the stage of negotiations over the offer from Hearts. They are interested and we do speak with them. We are moving forward with them already. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts interest in Islam Chesnokov 'Islam is a very interesting player who is extremely talented. He has a powerful left foot, a powerful shot and he does a big volume of work. He would be very suitable for Scottish football. He is very technical and he has established himself as one of the best players in Kazakhstan. He is a right-winger, more of an inverted winger who likes to go into the middle.' He's not the only winger to address transfer links this week. Arzani said while on duty with Australia: 'I think anyone now, any of the boys looking to move or off contract, that thought process will be in their head. It's a big deal, a World Cup. It's massive. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It is going to be really competitive and we have a lot of talent coming out of Australia as well. I think it is definitely important that if I go somewhere that I'll be playing week in, week out. I'm not sure what I am doing yet, what direction I am heading in but that's definitely part of the equation."
