Jambos had to move now or lose Jordi

DEREK MCINNES admits Hearts were forced to act now to sign the sought-after Jordi Altena - or risk losing out on the Dutch right-back.

- BY DARREN JOHNSTONE

The Gorgie side splashed out more than £500,000 to land Altena on a three-and-half-year deal from second-tier RKC Waalwijk in his homeland after initially targeting the 22-year-old as a recruit for next summer.

Altena, who was playing amateur football with De Treffers last season, is already in Edinburgh and will officially complete the move when the transfer window opens tomorrow.

There was more good news for Hearts with winger Islam Chesnokov finally arriving on Friday to complete his pre-contract switch from Kazakh Premier League side Tobol.