Exclusive: Blackburn Rovers & Preston North End join Watford in transfer chase for Hearts player | OneFootball

Scottish centre-back Craig Halkett is a man in-demand, with his contract set to expire in the summer

Championship duo Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End have joined the clubs that are eyeing up Hearts defender Craig Halkett ahead of the January transfer window, Football League World understands.

The 30-year-old centre-half is currently part of a side that are flying at the top of the Scottish Premiership table against all the odds, with Derek McInnes' side capitalising on the slow starts of Old Firm pair Celtic and Rangers, and they remain unbeaten after 12 matches played.

They could potentially lose one of their key players though in January or next summer, with uncapped Scotsman Halkett attracting plenty of interest south of the border thanks to his performances at Tynecastle.

Blackburn and Preston North End join Watford in Craig Halkett transfer chase

On October 30, Football League World revealed that Watford were among the clubs keeping tabs on Halkett's situation in Edinburgh, with his current contract - which was signed in January 2024 - set to expire at the end of the current season.

The Hornets though are not the only club in the running for the central defender though, and FLW now understands that the Championship's two Lancashire clubs Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End - who square off at Deepdale on Friday evening - are also in the mix.

It is believed that scouts from both clubs have watched Halkett in action on multiple occasions so far this season, and a cut-price deal in January could be on the table, given the fact he will be available as it currently stands on a pre-contract agreement for next season at the start of 2026.

Halkett has been in fine form at both ends of the pitch for Hearts this season, scoring three times in his 11 outings for McInnes' side, whilst also notching another two goals in a Scottish League Cup clash with Stirling Albion in July.

He has been a Hearts player since 2019 following his move from Livingston, appearing over 150 times for the Jam Tarts in all competitions in his six-plus years at the club, although he spent much of the 2022-23 season on the sidelines with an initial hamstring injury, before going on to suffer a long-term knee issue, which kept him out for almost a full calendar year.

Blackburn Rovers & Preston North End have some defensive issues amid Craig Halkett interest

Blackburn may be in desperate need of bolstering their defensive options sooner rather than later, especially with a recent injury picked up by Scott Wharton, which could leave him out for a considerable period.

Winger Ryan Hedges has had to fill in on the left-hand side of a back three under head coach Valerien Ismael, who has ruled out landing a free agent before the January transfer window opens, and Halkett appears to be being eyed up by the Frenchman and his recruitment team for the second half of the season and beyond.

Preston however are a bit more well-stocked at the back, although Lewis Gibson is currently sidelined with an injury of his own, which was picked up in October against Sheffield United.

Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Andrew Hughes and Odel Offiah are Paul Heckingbottom's current options at the back for the Lilywhites, but he could be looking to add to his defensive unit come January, with Halkett seemingly very much available as it currently stands due to his ongoing contract situation.