Hearts sign Portuguese defender

Hearts have dipped into the transfer market to sign Portugal under-21 international defender Jose Goncalves, seen here in 2005, from Swiss Super League side FC Thun

Hearts have dipped into the transfer market to sign Portugal under-21 international defender Jose Goncalves from Swiss Super League side FC Thun.

The 20-year-old left-back, who only joined Thun from Italian Serie B team Venezia at the beginning of the season, is due to sign a three-and-a-half year contract with the Edinburgh club on Tuesday.

He could be the first of four expected deadline day signings - the January transfer window closes on Tuesday - with Hearts chasing a number of other targets.

Manager Graham Rix also hopes to add HJK Helskinki's Finland striker, Juho Makela, former Benfica midfielder Bruno Aguiar and Bosnian winger Mirsad Beslija to his squad.

Goncalves and Aguiar impressed recently in trials while Beslija could join in an 850,000 pounds (1.5 million dollars) deal from Belgium's Racing Genk.

Makela, 22, caught Rix's eye after scoring 33 goals in 41 games for Helsinki.