By CALUM CROWE

Published: 18:45, 19 January 2026 | Updated: 18:45, 19 January 2026

Hearts are keen to push ahead and accelerate a deal to sign Ugandan striker Rogers Mato before the end of the transfer window.

It was confirmed last week that Hearts had agreed a pre-contract with Mato that would see him join the club in the summer from North Macedonian outfit FK Vardar.

But the move took a bizarre twist when Vardar then tried to claim they were in the process of selling Mato to Sporting Kansas City for a fee just shy of £1million.

The MLS side later acknowledged the player’s impending move to Hearts and conceded there was no prospect of a deal being done to take him to America.

The handling of the whole affair has prompted a bitter dispute between Mato and his employers, who are angered by Hearts effectively signing him on a free transfer.

But, whilst Hearts have no intention of paying any alleged release clause, there is a recognition that it is better for all parties to strike a deal as soon...