CHILEAN striker Mauricio Pinilla is expected to complete his move to Hearts today on a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon.

Tynecastle officials are closing in on a deal for the 22-year-old after holding secret talks with him in Edinburgh over the last 24 hours. Pinilla watched from the Murrayfield directors box on Wednesday night, accompanied by his partner and new baby, as Hearts comprehensively beat Siroki Brijeg in the Champions League second qualifying round.

The club are satisfied with the forward's medical results and the loan deal should be rubber stamped in Portugal by close of business today, making him Valdas Ivanauskas' first signing since becoming permanent head coach.

"We have a big chance to sign him although it has not been straightforward," said Ivanauskas. "He is here and we are talking to him, so I am hopeful.

"Pinilla is a good young player and had a very exciting start to his career after leaving Chile. But it is a difficult game in Scotland and I hope he can adjust and be a good player for us. He can score goals and we already have quality strikers at the club, which is a big compliment. Pinilla is ready to sign for Hearts but after that he must fight for his place in the team. It won't be easy because we have five good strikers."

The player's agent, Hugo Rubio, commented today: "It is possible that we can finish the negotiations to take Pinilla to Hearts today. The contracts have been discussed and now we want to make it official quickly."

Pinilla, formerly of Inter Milan, Chievo and Celta Vigo, is unable to make his debut at Dunfermline tomorrow due to a lack of fitness after finishing last season at the Spanish club Racing Santander, where he had been on loan from Sporting Lisbon.

His capture will end a summer striking search by Ivanauskas and majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, with the head coach admitting Hearts' interest in the South Korean forward Ahn Jung-hwan has now all but evaporated. "If we sign Pinilla we will have no more interest in Ahn," he said.

Ivanauskas is also hopeful of securing the Greek defender Hristos Karipidis from PAOK Salonika but the clubs are continuing to argue over the transfer fee.

"I hope to hear something today because I am waiting for the call to tell me he can sign for Hearts," added Ivanauskas.

"I hope he could be here in time to play against Dunfermline tomorrow but I think that will be too early."

Hearts have already had one offer of around £100,000 for the remaining year of Karipidis' contract rejected by PAOK , with sources in Greece insisting that amount must at least double.

Taken from the Scotsman