Heart of Midlothian will listen to offers for defenders Nathaniel Atkinson and Toby Sibbick after Steven Naismith revealed the duo are likely to move on.

Conversations were held with both players toward the end of the season where they were told their minutes would be limited. Hearts have since strengthened the right-side of defence this summer. Daniel Oyegoke has arrived from Brentford B and the club are still looking to bring Costa Rican international Gerald Taylor to Gorgie.

While the pair will not travel with the squad for the training camp in Tenerife on Thursday, staying behind with the B team, Naismith stressed that they are still part of the group and will train with the first-team when they return from the Canary Islands.

"Their minutes aren't going to be what they want to be," he said. "We had conversations towards the end of last season and it is likely they will move on at some point.

"They are still part of the group, they will still train but the priority does come for the boys who are going to be in the team that you need to get the detail in. In those moments they will need to compromise. It's football.

"They will be on a mixture of B team and individual programmes throughout the week that we are away. They will more than likely not play in any of the games."

Sibbick, who re-joined the club in January 2022 on a permanent deal, two years after a short loan spell, made just seven appearances after the winter break. He performed solidly when called upon, predominantly in the middle of the defence.

Atkinson, who has played 72 times since joining from Melbourne City, was a more regular presence in the second half of the campaign but didn't hold down the right-back or wing-back position the way he did prior to sustaining an injury against St Mirren early in the season. He made just one appearance after the split.

Sibbick and Atkinson are likely to leave Hearts this summer.Sibbick and Atkinson are likely to leave Hearts this summer. (Image: SNS)

Naismith admitted such conversations are never easy to have but it was a "footballing decision".

"With every player, I am open and honest with them," he said. "In these situations, I will have conversations with them.

"Toby is someone who has recognised he has not been comfortable or happy with his game time, even back in January. There wasn't a solution that came in January so he stayed and played a part so there was probably a bit more understanding with Toby's one. I think we were all on the same page that he's wanting more football, wanting to play more regularly so we'll see how that goes.

"Natty, it was a tough conversation. Toward the end of last season, his minutes weren't where he wanted them to be and I think that shows in the international [setup] that he doesn't get called up which he wouldn't have been happy with and wasn't happy with.

"It's just a footballing decision, that's what I said to them. There is disappointment, there's things that the players will feel, there's things that I will feel but ultimately it is just a footballing decision.

"At this moment in time, we are all here. For the players they need to get fit, regardless of where they are playing their football so it's in everybody's interest to work hard and still be part of it. Until they leave they are still Hearts players, they will still train with us, they will still be around the group and that's the way it will work."

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As things stand, no club has registered an interest in either player. Or any Hearts player for that matter. But that will likely change in the coming weeks as clubs begin to turn their attention to the transfer window.

"To be honest, I don't think we've taken any phone calls or had any conversations about any of our players," Naismith confirmed. "None that I can think of."

He added: "It's not something I've had too many conversations about because knowing football a lot of teams don't start kicking into action in terms of what they are looking for until now.

"We're in this period where everybody needs to get fit, they will be around and what will happen will happen."