Hearts have bid accepted for Sunderland target Liam Boyce with Burton striker in talks

Boyce had been a January target for the Black Cats this month but as the Echo revealed on Thursday, Phil Parkinson’s interest in the striker had cooled.

Our sister title the Edinburgh Evening News report: “Burton Albion have accepted Hearts' transfer offer for striker Liam Boyce, the Evening News can reveal.

“The English League One club are also expecting a renewed bid from at least one other club as they prepare to sell their top goalscorer.

“Boyce is now discussing personal terms with Hearts, who lodged an improved offer for the Northern Ireland internationalist on Thursday.”

The Burton Albion striker was a player on Parkinson's list of targets coming into the January window, and he has since added Kyle Lafferty to his forward line.

Boyce is in the last six months of his deal at the Pirelli Stadium, which is a key part of the reason why the Black Cats believed a deal could be agreed this month.

Parkinson, however, is at this stage not looking at another striker.

“With Liam, he’s a player I’ve known for a while and we’ve watched recently,” he told the Echo on Thursday.

“With Lafferty coming in, and Charlie and Griggy at the top end of the pitch, to bring another one would I think be one too many.”

The situation could change in the next week, with Parkinson still open to strengthening his squad.

Ideally he would like cover in the full-back positions and another midfield option.

The forward line is somewhere he could yet reshuffle, with the futures of Grigg and Marc McNulty is somewhat uncertain.

Hearts’ move for Boyce is far from being a done deal, however, with the Scottish side expecting other interested clubs to make new offers leaving Boyce with a decision to make.

Edinburgh Evening News add: “They are regarded as favourites at this stage and are the only club to talk terms with the forward so far.”