Rogers Mato sparks transfer war as Trabzonspor challenge Hearts

Ugandan winger Rogers Mato is fast becoming one of the hottest names on the January market after Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor joined Heart of Midlothian in a growing battle for his signature.

The 22-year-old, who has been in electric form for North Macedonian champions FK Vardar, is now attracting serious attention from across Europe, placing his club in a strong negotiating position as the window progresses.

Hearts were the first to make a concrete move, submitting an opening bid in the region of £300,000 earlier this month.

However, Vardar were quick to knock it back, insisting the offer fell well short of their valuation. The Skopje-based club are believed to want close to £600,000 for one of their prized assets and have shown no intention of lowering their demands.

With negotiations between Hearts and Vardar at a standstill, Trabzonspor have now stepped into the conversation.

Mato’s rapid rise has been fuelled by explosive pace

Reports from Turkey indicate that the Super Lig outfit have made initial enquiries and are monitoring the situation closely as they explore ways to strengthen their attacking options before the window shuts.

Vardar are convinced that the growing queue of suitors will only play into their hands. Club officials expect more approaches in the coming weeks and believe a bidding contest could drive Mato’s price even higher.

Despite their opening offer being rejected, Hearts have not walked away. The Scottish side still regard Mato as a priority target, even as they continue to survey the market for alternative options.

Mato’s rapid rise has been fuelled by his explosive pace, direct attacking style and end product, attributes that have made him a standout performer in Skopje and a valuable asset for the Uganda Cranes on the international stage.

His performances have not gone unnoticed, with several clubs keeping tabs on his progress.

Adding urgency to the situation is his contract, which runs until December following a short-term extension.

That leaves Vardar facing a crucial decision: sell now while his value is high or risk losing leverage later in the year. For now, they are standing firm confident that the growing interest from across Europe will eventually force the right offer onto the table.