Hearts have had a bid for Forest Green Rovers midfielder Laurent Mendy turned down by the National League club. The Scottish Premiership leaders targeted the 28-year-old after identifying him through their analytics service as a potential option to cover for absent players.

The move comes as Hearts face a midfield crisis. Beni Baningime is suspended for two matches following a red card, while Cammy Devlin is out for up to two months with an injury. The situation worsened with captain and top scorer Lawrence Shankland sidelined for eight weeks with a hamstring problem.

Hearts host Celtic on Sunday, trailing the second-place champions by six points. Manager Derek McInnes will have to manage without his key striker. While the club has agreed a deal for Uganda forward Rogers Mato, the paperwork and work permit are unlikely to be finalized in time for the weekend match.