Beni Baningime admits Hearts transfer business could sway future call as he makes end of season promise

Beni Baningime admits the calibre of player coming to Hearts this summer could persuade him not to leave.

Ross County playmaker Yan Dhanda, Motherwell skipper Blair Spittal and Livingston left-back James Penrice have all signed pre-contracts as boss Steven Naismith looks to get his business done early. Midfielder Baningime reckons the impending arrival of the trio has got the dressing room buzzing.

He is out of contract at the end of the season and will not make any decision on his future until the close season. He said: “The three players that are said to be coming are great players. Playing against them, they are tidy players and are going to add to us. Hopefully if we can finish strongly and get third they are going to be a great addition and help push us on for next season and to be even better than this season. All the players have been speaking about it and when I first heard about it I was really impressed.

“Would that help with me staying here long term – 100 per cent but I won’t be signing any contract with anyone before the end of the season. We’re doing it at the end of the season. I’ve spoken with my family, there won’t be any pre-contract with this team or this team.”

Baningime, who helped Hearts keep their 11-point lead in third place with a draw in Saturday’s clash with Kilmarnock, added: “For me it’s focusing on Hearts and finishing third. Last season we let it slip so we still need to hold onto that and hopefully go on and win the Cup if we can. That’s basically my aim.

“But with those players coming in and where the club is going it definitely makes you start to think, ‘Okay, I’d want to play with these players’ because they are good players’.”

One player already at the club who has been tipped to have