 Mauricio Pinilla was with Racing Santander last season |
Hearts have warned that they must agree a transfer fee with PAOK Salonika by Monday or they will end their interest in Greek defender Hristos Karipidis. Head coach Valdas Ivanauskas said: "We have been discussing the contract. However, the Greek club is making it more difficult than necessary.
"We have got until the 24 July. If we don't sign him before then the deal will not happen.
"We have another two or three players for that position."
Karipidis had a medical on Monday along with Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla, who is poised to sign on loan from Sporting Lisbon
"We have had a look at Hristos and he is a player we like," Ivanauskas said of the 23-year-old.
"If everything comes back okay and we can sort out his contract situation with PAOK, because he still has one year left with them, then we hope he will join us."
Hearts need cover in central defence with Scotland international Andy Webster poised to sign for Wigan Athletic and Jose Goncalves out injured for the first couple of months of the season.
Ivanauskas hopes to give Pinilla the chance to solve his striking problems.
The 22-year-old Chilean was sent out on loan by Sporting last season to Racing Santander.
"I hope that I can bring in a few new faces," Ivanauskas added.
"I cannot say too much, because we still have a lot of work to do, but we are working very hard to identify the right people.
"We have a lot of players in on trial right now, but we are just having a look at the moment."
Five unnamed Lithuanian players are on trial and Ivanauskas thought that two might be of the right quality for Hearts.
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