The 25-year-old is currently five games into the 2025 Kazakhstan Premier League campaign with Tobol, who sit third in the table after beating Aktobe 2-0 at the Tobol Arena on Saturday. His contract there is due to expire on 31 October and he is destined to leave his homeland for pastures new in an effort to further his career. Hearts are poised to secure his services on a pre-contract after failing to agree a transfer deal with Tobol in January this year.
A left-footed winger who normally prefers playing on the right flank, Chesnokov is versatile and able to operate anywhere across the front line. He is a Kazakhstan internationalist with 13 caps and two goals for his country so far. Since joining Tobol in 2023, he has now scored 21 goals in 69 appearances and claimed 11 assists. His attacking instincts and pace are commodities badly needed in Gorgie for next season.
Hearts intend to do some extensive surgery on their first-team squad during the summer months. They have already secured a new right-back for next season in the shape of 25-year-old Norwegian Christian Borchgrevink, who also agreed a pre-contract deal to move to Edinburgh from Valerenga. His arrival alongside Chesnokov’s would give an entirely new look to the right side of the Hearts team.
When the transfer window opens and business starts to pick up speed, other parts of the side are expected to be addressed. Last week, Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay said that fans could anticipate “significant change” throughout the summer. Following a poor 2024–25 season, supporters are already excited about the possibility of Chesnokov and Borchgrevink joining.
Hearts will likely end in the Premiership’s bottom six after losing to Aberdeen in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final after extra time. To raise standards and guarantee the team’s return to the top half of the table, a summer rebuild is necessary.
