St Johnstone remain hopeful that a deal can be done to take Hearts centre back Brad McKay to McDiarmid Park in the summer.
Saints are favourites to land the 21-year-old on a pre-contract agreement and talks are understood to be ongoing with the defender about a switch to Perth.
McKay’s days at Tynecastle appear to be numbered after making just seven starts in nine appearances for the Jambos this term, and Saints boss Tommy Wright yesterday confirmed his interest in signing the former Scotland Under 21 cap.
“I have to try and bring in younger players longer term,” he noted.
“We have a really good experienced squad with some good younger lads.
“But I think slowly we have to look at the age of the squad.
“Brad is only 21 and that is one of the reasons we are looking at him.
“He has been told he can leave Hearts.
“The position is that he can’t be guaranteed more playing time and they have said they won’t stand in his way if he can find another club.
“He has played over 40 games for Hearts, a lot of them last season.
“He can play centre back or right back.
“He is certainly of interest to us and we are hoping to get something tied up.”
While some clubs dipped into the transfer market before the close of the window last night, Wright declared himself content with the squad he now has at his disposal.
Indeed, it was business as usual in Perth with no sign of any deals being done at the last minute.
“If you look at the squad it is strong enough,” he stressed.
“The impact made by Chris Kane and the return of Tam Scobbie, Steven MacLean and Murray Davidson from injury has been like having new players.
“We also have Gareth Rodger back for defensive cover.
“James McFadden had a get out clause in his contract and the deadline in that has passed so he is staying.
“We are delighted about that.
“To improve the squad we might have had to spend more than the wage bill can handle.
“And no one became available I thought was going to improve us.”