Vargas to Hearts: Club confidence, best to come, protecting value

It’s the latest piece of early business concluded by Steven Naismith, who appears to have one eye firmly on the future in EH11. Pre-contract deals have already been struck for Ross County playmaker Yan Dhanda, Livingston left-back James Penrice and Motherwell midfielder Blair Spittal ahead of the summer window as next season’s squad begins to take shape, and supporters will have been pleased to learn that Vargas will be involved.

READ MORE: Kenneth Vargas commits future to Hearts by completing permanent transfer

The move was something of a no-brainer. As a young player taking his first steps in the Scottish game, Vargas has made a positive impact at Tynecastle Park thus far and it’s fair to assume the best is still to come. The forward’s potential has been clear to see from day one, and he has started regularly delivering on that potential since the turn of the year. The five-year contract he has signed provides an indication of how highly Vargas is regarded by the coaching staff at Tynecastle, the club clearly feel he is an asset that must be protected by a long-term deal, as does the alacrity with which Hearts have activated the attacker’s buy-out fee.

It all speaks to the club’s confidence in Vargas: confidence that he can contribute in the here and now; confidence that he can be developed and become even better; and confidence that one day, perhaps, he will net Hearts a significant transfer fee. And that confidence isn’t misplaced, either.

Slow start but now right at home

It understandably took Vargas time to settle into life in the capital. We often forget that footballers are human beings with real lives, but remember: this was a young man, moving away from his homeland for the first time to a club on the other side of the world in a country where he didn’t speak the language. Add in the fact that his son was staying behind in Costa Rica and it’s an awful lot of adjustment for a 21-year-old.

On the football front, too, Vargas was somewhat thrown into the deep end. Injuries to the likes of Yutaro Oda and Barrie McKay in the early stages of the season meant that Vargas featured more regularly than was initially planned – Vargas played the full 90 home and away to PAOK, for instance – and was shifted around the forward line to plug the gaps. A run of games in a consistent position would have been more helpful but fortune conspired against Vargas and Naismith. But Vargas, in typical fashion, simply got the head down. He simply isn’t the sort of player to shy away from a hard graft.

“Kenneth is someone who has suffered from being used a lot,” Naismith explained earlier in the season. “He’s done a lot of hard yards that nobody appreciates. People have probably expected a bit more but he’s got real quality.”

Vargas had caught the eye during his early run in the team. He was tenacious in his work on and off the ball, never backed away from a challenge and his pace was capable of causing all sorts of problems. There were little flashes that Hearts had a real player on their hands here – a long-range thunderbolt against Aberdeen that rebounded off the underside of the bar immediately springs to mind – but there was one thing missing: try as he might, Vargas couldn’t notch his first goal in maroon.

That all changed in early November at home to Livingston. Hearts dominated the ball that day but couldn’t find a way though the visitors’ stubborn and well-organised defence, and the home crowd was getting a little antsy until Vargas connected with Jorge Grant’s cross at the back post to provide the only goal of the game.

It was as though a weight had been lifted from Vargas’ shoulders, and he hasn’t looked back since. The confidence has been flowing, particularly in 2024. The new year started with Vargas striking the winner away to Livi in Hearts’ final fixture before the winter break, and the Costa Rica internationalist has maintained that momentum ever since. Six of Vargas’ seven goals for Hearts have arrived in his last 13 appearances, and he has scored in all three of Hearts’ Scottish Cup ties this year.

Yutaro Oda’s recent absence through injury meant that Vargas has had little competition for his place in the starting line-up when Hearts lined up with a 4-3-3, but the Japanese’s return to fitness forces Vargas to maintain his good run of form now. Vargas has established himself as first pick out on the right – and it’s now down to him to cement that status.

READ MORE: Kenneth Vargas on Hearts future, fan love, Thor and best moment in maroon

Best position

Vargas has played all across the forward line, particularly at the start of season. Now he can usually be found patrolling the right wing in a front three or playing through the middle in the 3-5-2, playing off of Lawrence Shankland. It’s still unclear where his best position is but there is no question that his versatility is a big plus.

There is an argument to be made for both positions being Vargas’ best. When deployed at right wing, his high work rate and enthusiasm for getting up the park allows the forward to stretch the play, while also adding some crucial pace up top that’s lacking elsewhere. Vargas is always keen to take on his man and uses his body well, but his all-round link-up play could be better.

His position might be wide but in a tactical sense he’s playing as another striker, as evidenced by the fact that he has registered only three assists in 34 appearances for Hearts. For all his qualities, Vargas’ decision making in the final third can occasionally be suspect, and his final ball is sometimes lacking.

So, he should be playing through the centre then? Yes and no. Vargas is undoubtedly lively at centre-forward, and most of his goal contributions have arrived when he’s playing through the middle. His relationship with Shankland has improved as the season has worn on, and an oft-forgotten fact is that Vargas is the second-top goal scorer at club with seven goals to his name so far.

Vargas is targeting double figures in his debut season in Scottish football and the truth is that he could have easily hit that milestone already. He has seen three excellent shots come crashing back off the woodwork this season – had any gone in, they would have been contenders for goal of the month – but there have also been times when a bit more ruthlessness wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Two incidents spring to mind – and they are probably the two most galling misses from any Hearts player this season. The first arrived in January’s 3-2 win over Dundee when Vargas was slipped through and afforded the freedom of Gorgie to decide his next move, only to blaze the ball over from close range. The linesman’s flag ultimately spared Vargas’ blushes as he was offside during the build-up, but there would be no similar reprieve in the second incident. Playing away at Cappielow in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup and with the score tied at 0-0, Shankland nudged the ball into Vargas’ path, who was advancing into the box at pace. The first touch was excellent but with his second, Vargas somehow fired wide of goal from just a few yards out.

Those misses may undermined his credentials as an out-and-out goal scorer, but his reaction to both also demonstrated his character. If Vargas was unhappy, embarrassed or frustrated, he certainly didn’t show it. Both were met with the same reaction: a big cheesy grin, almost in disbelief. As soon as they passed, they were instantly forgotten. Against Morton, Vargas was even able to shake off his error and strike the winning goal late on to send Hearts to Hampden.

READ MORE: Kenneth Vargas' Hearts rise: Steven Naismith on 'striker mindset' and future

Smart move that suits everyone

It’s a transfer that suits everyone involved. Hearts get an up-and-coming player, Vargas gets his move, and his club back home land a six-figure fee.

Crucially for Vargas, he has been given the chance to continue developing and improving at a club sitting in third place in the league, challenging for trophies and there is the added bonus of European group-stage football to (hopefully) look forward to this season. The move being made permanent was always likely, but the length of Vargas’ deal shows the commitment from both the club and the player.

“The truth is I am really happy here,” Vargas told Hearts Standard last month in an exclusive interview. “It will be great to give the club more joy, to be able to show my football ability, which I know I am capable of. But most of all to be here for a long time and continue to make the people happy, as they do for me.”

Vargas has already provided a few memorable moments in maroon. Here’s hoping there are many more to follow over the next five years.