Steven Naismith has confirmed Heart of Midlothian's interest in Colombian international Andres Salazar.

The club are in talks with Atletico Nacional over a loan deal with an option to buy. The Hearts head coach revealed that he has become available due to the player's situation at the Colombian giants. He is viewed as a replacement for Alex Cochrane.

Salazar has not played since April but has featured in the top flight in his homeland and the Copa Libertadores. He made his debut for Colombia last year.

@hearts.standard Is Andres Salazar coming to Gorgie? #heartofmidlothian #heartsfc #scottishfootball #hmfc #spfl #transferrumours #atleticonacional #andressalazar #futbolcolombiano ♬ original sound - Hearts Standard

 

"It is something we are working on," Naismith said. "I've not got much update on where that is at.

"As a player, he is someone who has got really high potential. We've been fortunate that his situation at his current is going to restrict his minutes, we're going to benefit from that.

"The way the deal has been structured and the way it will work out it's a good opportunity for us. As we lost Alex it was someone we had known about but we didn't really think we had a massive opportunity to get but that seems to have changed and is something we are working hard to get done."

He added: "He is similar to Gerald [Taylor] in that he's playing for a massive club in the country that has a stature, a drive, that feeling from the fans that you need to produce."

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Hearts are still working on a deal to sign Malachi Boateng from Crystal Palace following his loan spell with Dundee. A couple of things have dragged the deal on but the club hope to have a solution today but it is unclear yet whether he will be involved against Rangers or not.

"I don't think I need to sell him too much because he's showed in his time in Scotland, first at Queen's Park and then last season at Dundee, where he played a really big part in their good season," Naismith said. 

"He's probably underrated because he does a lot of the defensive side of things. He is athletic, he has a physicality about him and he's comfortable receiving the ball in the middle of the pitch which is a really good quality to have."