Hearts has secured progress in the Conference League, a development manager Wouter Vrancken described as a reward after early season setbacks. The club has been active in the transfer market this summer, bringing in 12 new players and seeing more than that number depart.
With at least six more European fixtures scheduled for this season, former Hearts player Ryan Stevenson believes the club will need to strengthen its squad further. "I think they'll definitely need to bring in another two or three anyway when you look at the League Cup, the six games in Europe, the league, which is so important," Stevenson told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.
Former Tynecastle favorite Allan Preston suggested that the club is prepared for potential recruitment needs. "They've got people ready to come if they're needed," Preston said. "They are ready. They don't wait until things happen. They already do things. If they need to, they'll be pushing the button before the transfer window closes. They will get better, they'll produce better."
A potential area for reinforcement may be in midfield, following an injury to Tom Renaud during a recent match. "That's the biggest disappointment of the evening," Vrancken lamented. "It's not looking good but I hope for him that it's OK. We have to look there because he was also really good in the last game. We're talking every day about those things and we'll see in the next weeks."
The club's European success brings financial benefits, and further player sales and purchases may occur as the transfer window nears its close.