Robbie Neilson says he will hold talks with Blazej Augustyn over his Hearts future in the next few days after admitting John Souttar's form could have an impact on the Polish defender winning a fresh Tynecastle deal.

Augustyn's current contract expires at the end of the season with the 28-year-old having made 26 appearances since joining from Gornik Zabrze last summer.

Souttar has impressed at the heart of Hearts' defence following his winter move from Dundee United and Neilson admits to being surprised by the teenager's rapid progress.

He told STV: "You are always trying to evolve your squad. John has come in and to be honest I expected him to take a year or 18 months to establish himself as a first-team player but he's come in and done really well. He's given real competition for places. You need numbers in there and make sure you have back up and people ready to step in.

"In the next couple of days we'll have a conversation and see what we [Neilson and Augustyn] both think."

With the Hearts head coach targeting three or four summer additions, players will have to depart the capital. Miguel Pallardo will be heading for the exit door after being reduced to 19 appearances this term with a return to Spain on the cards for the 29-year-old midfielder.

Neilson added: "Pallardo has been told he won't be here next season and he understands that and he's thinking of moving back to Spain. It's a process of always trying to evolve the club.

"He's done fantastically well for us over the past few years but I just feel the way we're going and trying to bring players in, there won't be much game time for him. He accepts that and we thank him for his hard work."

Hearts welcome champions elect Celtic to Tynecastle this weekend with Arnaud Djoum already tipping his team to challenge the Glasgow men for the title next term.

Neilson hopes a more stable summer of recruitment can allow his side to build on this season's success, which has seen them reach third in their first season back in the top flight.

On his plans for the close season and where Hearts must improve to reach the top, he added: "I don't think I'll need to do as much work to the squad as we did last season when coming up from the Championship.

"I think a lot of the guys have proven they can play at this level and we just need to do it a bit more consistently. I think having a season like this will help. Next season when it comes to difficult games, we'll know what we need to do, grind results out and get points. All in all not a huge change to the squad but just bringing in better quality.

"We're going to try very hard, we'd like to try and challenge but we won't get carried away and make unrealistic commitments. It's going to be difficult. Rangers are coming up, Celtic are there and both teams will spend heavily. You've got Aberdeen, who have been consistent in the top two or three for the last three or four years."

The ex-Leicester City defender told STV if the Foxes clinch the Premier League title it will be a great day not just for football, but for sport: "I think it's phenomenal, what a great season they've had and what a great achievement it would be if they could get there.

"For a club of Leicester's size and the difficulties they've had in League 1 three or four years ago, to climb all the way up.

"The whole city's coming together and it'd be great for, not just football, but sport in general to show that you don't need to spend huge amounts of money to achieve top level performances."