Hearts are close to signing striker Esmael Goncalves after a bid of around £170,000 was accepted for the player.

The 25-year-old is expected in Edinburgh to complete the move from Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus.

Hearts had failed with earlier bids for the player but met the demands of Anorthosis with a fresh offer on Thursday.

Goncalves had told the Cypriot club he wished to move to Hearts, where he will be reunited with his former Rio Ave coach Ian Cathro and assistant Austin MacPhee, who helped bring the player to St Mirren on loan in 2013.

Goncalves enjoyed a fruitful spell with the Buddies, netting eight goals in 16 games, including the opener in the 3-2 League semi-final victory over Celtic.

St Mirren went on to win the cup with a 3-2 victory over Hearts at Hampden, with Goncalves scoring.

The Portugal-born forward has scored seven goals in 19 appearances this season, including one in Anorthosis' 5-0 cup win over ASIL on Wednesday.

He will become Cathro's fifth signing of the January transfer window, following Aaron Hughes, Lennard Sowah, Malaury Martin and Andraz Struna to Tynecastle.