Phil SumblerA second Hearts defender has been linked with Swansea City – and also Bristol City – as transfer speculation ahead of the transfer window hots up and rumours start to become more frequent.
It was last week that Scotland international John Souttar was linked with a move to the Swans and whilst, financially, that one is unlikely to happen the links with Craig Halkett are potentially more palatable.
The Swans are known to be on the search for a central defender in the new year with Ryan Bennett not able to undertake all the challenges of a Championship season and Ryan Williams not showing the form we would have wanted when we signed him from Liverpool.
So it is little wonder that the links with Souttar, Haydon Roberts at Brighton and now Craig Halkett are forthcoming as the opening of the window grows closer.
Halkett, 26, is out of contract at the end of the season and could be signed on a cut price deal and Football Insider has been told by a ‘source’ that both the Swans and Bristol City are keeping close tabs on Halkett who has played in all but one of Hearts’ league fixtures as they rose to 3rd place in the Scottish Premier League table.
Halkett started his career with Rangers but failed to make a senior appearance before leaving Ibrox.
The former Scotland under-19 international joined Livingston on a free transfer in 2016 after loan spells with Clyde and Berwick Rangers.
The defender established himself in the side as Livi earned back-to-back promotions to seal a place in the Scottish Premiership.
Earlier this season he scored a late equaliser for Hearts at Ibrox as they took a point away to the Champions.
He was asked back in September by the Edinburgh Evening News about his new contract and said “My contract is up at the end of the season and, as of yet, we haven’t had any talks. Right now, I’m just focusing on the football, getting my head down, staying fit and playing the best I can.
“No matter what position you are in with your contract or how many years you’ve got left, you just want to get your head down and focus. That’s what I’ve been doing.
“Obviously you know in the back of your mind that your contract is up at the end of the season, so you want to play as well as you can. Hopefully the club sees you as a player they want to keep for the future. Once that bridge comes, then we will cross it.
“As it stands just now, I’m just getting my head down and working hard. For me, it’s just about playing football on a Saturday. As long as I’m starting every game and performing well, I’m happy to do that. Then whatever happens, happens.”
