JAMBOS WIN RACE TO SIGN BOSNIA STAR

HEARTS last night looked to have sealed the deal to bring Mirsad Beslija to Edinburgh.

The Jambos have agreed a fee with Racing Genk and personal terms with the 26-year-old.

Now the Bosnia midfielder is set to officially register with the Tynecastle club early next week.

Jambos s e c re t a r y Campbell Ogilvie spent yesterday at Hampden where he was successful in the club's appeal for clearance after initially seeing it rejected.

However, it's believed a deal between the SPL title hopefuls and Belgian outfit Racing Genk has still to be struck with the fee thought to be £850,000.

The protracted move for Beslija has been shrouded in mystery. It is understood that Hearts pulled out of the running for the player just last week because of the number of agents involved.

And the deal appeared dead until yesterday when it emerged the club had won the appeal for a work permit.

Meanwhile, Oxford midfielder Chris Hackett could feature against Hibs today after signing in a £20,000 deal from Oxford.

And Hackett could be joined at Tynecastle before the transfer window closes by Finnish striker Juho Makela, who is on the verge of a £300,000 deal.

Boss Graham Rixworked with Hackett at Oxford and admitted he was delighted to pinch him from under the noses of Hibs.

Rix said: "He's got great pace, is a good crosser of the ball and has plenty of potential.

"He'd have been a free transfer in the summer and he's well worth the gamble. "He had talks with Hibs and they were keen but he came here and we're delighted to get him."

Taken from the Daily Record