Frankie Kent wants Hearts transfer as Peterborough chief Barry Fry lifts the lid on 'very close' deal

Peterborough defender Frankie Kent has told Posh bosses he wants to move to Hearts with the Tynecastle club close to agreeing a deal.

The League One club's director of football Barry Fry told Record Sport a first bid from the Jambos has been rejected but that the two clubs are “very close” to agreement for the 27-year-old who is expected to join former team mate Jorge Grant at Tynecastle. Kent has spent four years at Peterborough after signing for £500,000 from Colchester United. He helped Darren Ferguson’s side win promotion to the Championship as League One runners-up two years ago and back into the play-offs last season before losing to Sheffield Wednesday.

Now he’s been identified by Frankie McAvoy and Steven Naismith as the ideal fit to bolster Hearts’ central defensive options alongside Kye Rowles, Toby Sibbick, Lewis Neilson and with Craig Halkett still to return from injury. Kent has one year left on his contract at the Weston Homes Stadium but looks set for a move to the Scottish Premiership.

Fry told Record Sport: “We’re in talks. We rejected the first offer. We’ve had interest from English clubs but the player has told us he wants to go to Hearts. At the minute we’re still talking. It’s very close. But it won’t be done as it stands.”

Kent has made 170 appearances for Posh in four years, scoring five goals, and Fry reckons the 6ft 2in stopper is good enough for the English Championship.

He said: “Frankie has been very successful for us. We bought him for half a million pounds and we’d normally make a profit but we won’t make one on this. He has given us three magnificent years of service and will reluctantly let him go if we can sort the payment structure.

“Frankie helped us win promotion, he helped us to