Heart of Midlothian

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Beau Reus is keen to step up to the "big league" with Hearts after signing a three-year deal at Tynecastle.

The 24-year-old Dutchman has been signed as a free agent, having been with Belgian side Beveren for the past four campaigns.

He says he grew up from a boy to a man in Belgium, but he is excited to take a step up in Gorgie.

"I'm so excited," Reus said. "We took our time, but we made the right decision. I'm so happy to be here.

"We had a great season last year. The last four years were nice, a step up now.

"As a person I came in [at Beveren] like a kid and left as a grown man. Now is the time for the big league, so I want to show myself here.

"The club, you see how big it is, what you guys reached last year is wonderful and I hope we can do the same this year and maybe even better."

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Hearts goalkeeper Liam McFarlane has joined Scottish Championship outfit Partick Thistle on loan for the 2026-27 season.

McFarlane, 21, spent last season on loan with Alloa Athletic and travelled to the World Cup this summer as Scotland's training goalkeeper.

He made 39 appearances for Alloa as they just missed out on promotion to the Championship, losing the play-off final to Stenhousemuir.

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Macaulay Tait is "happy to do the dirty work" for St Johnstone after completing a permanent switch from fellow Scottish Premiership side Hearts.

Tait, 20, came through the Hearts academy and has had two loan spells with Livingston in the past two seasons.

He has signed a two-year deal at McDiarmid Park and says he is in the right place to continue his development.

"I'm really excited to get started and to meet all of the boys properly," he said. "How much the club and the gaffer wanted me was a great start to all of this.

"I felt it was the right place to continue my journey. The club has momentum coming into the top-flight, and it seems a really positive place to be. The boys play good football and I'll just be looking to come in and add to that.

"I have been at Hearts for a while and came through the academy, playing 16 times for the first team. That was nice for myself and my family.

"I took the step on loan to Livingston for the past 18 months and I can't thank them enough for progressing my career. Now I'm looking to make a real impact at Saints.

"I'll be hard-working and run for this team as much as I can. Hopefully I can bring quality on the ball and give the attacking players the service to do their stuff. I'm happy to do the dirty work."

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It was "incredible" how Craig Gordon came back from a double leg break four years ago to make this summer's finals and end his career with Scotland at the World Cup, Rory Loy has stated on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

Ex-striker Loy suffered the same injury as the former Celtic, Hearts and Sunderland goalkeeper, who announced he is retiring from playing on Thursday.

"I did the same thing, but I did it when I was 20, 23," he said of Gordon, who suffered the injury at the age of 39.

"So it's a different mindset, 23, I suppose. You're still young, you're motivated, your body's young to try and come back from it.

"But to do it at his age, in his late 30s and still manage to come back from it. Trust me, I know how difficult it is to come back from that injury, psychologically, as as well as physically. It's not easy.

"The shin bone just snaps basically. So it needs to heal and then obviously your whole biomechanics, the way you walk, the way you move, the way you do everything, it just changes.

"So I needed orthotics in my shoes basically to change and adapt to the way I now move differently and there's just so many different layers to it.

"For him to go through that that type of thing at the age he was at and still have the motivation to come back and play football just sums up the type of mindset he had.

"But, away from all of that, the level of goalkeeping and saves he had was incredible."

We asked for your thoughts on goalkeeper Craig Gordon announcing his retirement from professional football.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Molly: An amazing career. Hearts through and through. That save against Dundee last year is one of the best saves I think I will ever see. A true leader when he was captain, very grateful to have watched him play for club and country, gave it his all every time.

David: Gordon will fondly be remembered as one of the all-time greats in the history of our club. Not only was he an outstanding goalkeeper but is a really nice person as well. Don't be lost to football altogether Craig.

Madge: Always a class act on and off the pitch, articulate and measured, despite the injuries and across the ages his performances never wavered, reckon he should have played for one of the top English teams but pleased he finished his career at Hearts and wish him nothing but success in the future.

Nick: Legend of a goalkeeper. Worryingly probably still the best we've got despite his ageing years. All the best to him.

Bryan: Without a doubt, Craig is the best Hearts keeper of all time. A brilliant shot stopper and a great servant to Hearts & Scotland.

Alex: I've been lucky to witness some excellent keepers at Tynecastle, but Craig is the best of them all, and the best keeper Scotland has ever had.

Clairee: A true Scottish footballing legend, getting to play for the club you support and your country is the stuff dreams are made of and he did it with class, determination and resilience, a hero for kids to look up to! Look forward to seeing where his next adventure takes him.

Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland has confirmed there was a clause in his Hearts contract that meant, if a potential offer came in from any club, they would work to make it happen and he decided he wanted to join Rangers. (Daily Record, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Craig Gordon's "calmness" was his standout quality during a glittering playing career, says former manager Craig Levein.

The Hearts and Scotland goalkeeping great announced his retirement at the age of 42 on Thursday,

Levein, who managed Gordon during his time as Tynecastle boss, recalls the former Celtic man's cool head, even as a youngster.

He also remembers the high standard of training when Gordon was attempting to break into the Hearts first team, given who he was trying to replace.

"Other than superb ability, his calmness was the thing," Levein told BBC Scotland. "Even as a young lad, making his debut and such.

"If I remember correctly, Antti Niemi was with us at the time when Craig was coming to the fore.

"We had some training games with him in one goal and Antti in the other - 0-0 in a training game is unusual, you know.

"From very early on you could tell he was going to be a top, top player."

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Hearts and Scotland great Craig Gordon has announced his retirement from professional football.

The 43-year-old began his footballing journey when he joined the Tynecastle club's academy in 1999, and what followed was a hugely successful career.

In terms of silverware, Gordon won six Scottish top-flight titles with Celtic as well as five League Cups and three Scottish Cups - the latter a trophy he also lifted with Hearts.

Internationally, the goalkeeper earned 84 caps for the Scottish national team and was part of the squad that took Scotland to their first World Cup in almost 30 years.

As the goalkeeper hangs up his gloves, send us your thoughts on Gordon's career.

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Over the past year, Craig Gordon granted BBC cameras unprecedented access to his life at the age of 42, as he attempted to reach a World Cup.

Along the way, we learned about his miracle saves and comebacks from injuries that should have ended his career, yet which allowed him to continue competing at the top level for so many years.

From a prodigy at Hearts to a record breaker in the Premier League and an invincible at Celtic, Gordon has had a career like no other, but there was one thing missing - being part of a World Cup.

To get there, he had to overcome opposition on the pitch as well as the limitations of his own body as he battled injuries to keep the dream alive.

Watch the Gordon edition of Icons of Football on BBC iPlayer

Watch some of Craig Gordon's best saves for Hearts following the goalkeeper's retirement from playing.

READ MORE: Goalkeeping great Gordon announces retirement

WATCH: Icons of Football - Craig Gordon

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In an emotional video, external posted by Hearts, Craig Gordon shared this message upon his retirement...

"Everyone has dreams. Mine were probably no different to most kids: play for my club and my country. Heart of Midlothian and Scotland.

"Improbable? Perhaps. Impossible? Absolutely not.

"Hard work, sacrifices, setbacks. Step by step, dreams become reality. From supporting Hearts to playing for Hearts.

"Years of hard work can never fully prepare you. You want to do yourself proud, you want to do your family proud, you want to do the fans proud.

"There's nothing better than walking out here at Tynecastle, hearing Gorgie roar and celebrating a victory. I've been fortunate enough to enjoy many of them.

"Some brought Edinburgh bragging rights, some brought trophies, some brought European memories. All of them special because I got to share them with the fans.

"I'm not much of a singer, but I improved a little after 84 renditions of the national anthem. The biggest names, at the biggest stadiums, on the biggest stages - I've savoured every moment of it.

"I've never wanted it to end, but end it must. I have lived my dreams and for that, I'm so thankful.

"Thankful for my team-mates and coaches pushing me all the way. Thankful for my opponents for spurring me on. Thankful for the medical staff who have worked with me throughout the years. Thankful to my loved ones for their support. And thankful to the fans for being behind me for 24 years.

"But now the gloves are finally off, and I bid farewell to my playing career. You, the fans have given me everything, and it has been a privilege to represent you.

"I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken says it is up to the Tynecastle club to find a deal for Forest Green Rovers midfielder Laurent Mendy, 29, and says goalkeeper Liam McFarlane, 21, will go out on loan again. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Beveren goalkeeper Beau Reus has flown to Scotland for a medical before a proposed transfer to Hearts. (Voetbal International - in Dutch, external)

Rangers will find it difficult to afford a move for Hearts forward Claudio Braga, 26, this summer. (Football Insider, external)

Hearts midfielder Macaulay Tait, 20, is set to join fellow Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Pierre Landry Kabore and Alexandros Kyziridis scored as Hearts defeated Championship side Arbroath in a pre-season friendly at Gayfield.

Landry Kabore's header had the Edinburgh club ahead at the break before Kyziridis doubled their lead with just over an hour on the clock.

Andy Winter pulled one back for the hosts but it was only a consolation.

Next up, Hearts face Spanish side Rayo Vallecano at Tynecastle on Friday night.

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Liam Ross will leave Southampton to become Hearts' new set-piece specialist.

The Tynecastle club say the former Dundee United and Rangers youth coach has "vast experience on both sides of the border in on-pitch delivery".

He will replace Ross Grant, who left to join Celtic after making a significant impact during his 12 months in Gorgie.

Hearts confirm Ross will start his new role in Wouter Vrancken's backroom team next week when he leaves his position as Southampton's individual development coach.

Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage says Hearts have made contact about Laurent Mendy but have been told the 29-year-old midfielder is not for sale. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Ipswich Town will not be making a move for Claudio Braga despite speculation linking the club promoted to the Premier League with the 26-year-old Hearts forward. (Daily Record, external)

Bournemouth are eyeing a move to sign Hearts and Scotland Under-16s goalkeeper Finlay Jamieson. (Football Insider, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Alan Forrest regards Dundee as "a good fit" after signing up at Dens Park on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.

The winger, 29, was a free agent after leaving Hearts. He made 142 appearances over four years at Tynecastle, scoring 14 times.

Manager Steven Pressley told Dundee's website: "We've been monitoring Alan's situation for a while and it's excellent to be able to bring him to Dundee.

"He has all the attributes we were looking for in his position, like his one-to-one ability, delivery of crosses and ball carrying and he is very hard working against the ball.

"Alan is someone who knows the Scottish game very well. He's performed well at this level for a number of years and we believe he still has a lot to give."

Before joining Hearts, Forrest turned out for Ayr United and Livingston, playing more than 200 times for the former.

And he said: "As soon as Dundee were interested, I thought it was a good fit for me.

"The way they played last year, they were a match for any team in the league so I'm looking forward to getting started.

"Whether it's helping off the ball or creating and scoring goals, I want to affect games as much as I can."

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Ryan McGowan is confident "there'll be another Cammy Devlin" at former club Hearts before too long.

Australia midfielder Devlin, 28, has left Hearts to join Scottish Premiership rivals Rangers under freedom of contract.

"That's the way that football works," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"There'll be another Cammy Devlin that comes along in the next couple of years and hopefully can go that one step further."

Devlin was a popular player at Hearts, making 171 appearances and scoring eight goals.

"Knowing him, he definitely loved Hearts," McGowan explained. "He enjoyed playing there.

"He's obviously quite happy and settled in Scotland. I know he was interested in going to America and trying something different.

"A combination of going to Rangers and being able to sort of still stay in Scotland where he's settled probably swung it a little bit."