Steven Naismith reveals gut Hearts feeling over Beni Baningime future

Steven Naismith insists he's optimistic that Beni Baningime will commit his future to Hearts.

The former Everton midfielder has been weighing up his options as his contract expires this summer. But the 25-year-old revealed last week that he had finally made up his mind up on where he will be playing his football next season, teasing that an announcement was imminent.

Naismith confirmed the DR Congo playmaker has yet to tell him if he'll be staying at Tynecastle but hopes the playmaker will put pen to paper on a new deal - and stick around for another crack at Europe.

Relaxed Naisy said: "I hope he tells me soon! I can understand where he is at, where he wants to go, why he wants to take time to think about it. I'm optimistic. Any conversation I've had with him, what he wants in this short-to-medium term we can give him. I also understand he wants to get to as high as he can.

"I've been comfortable with the whole thing all along. The conversations we've had have been good. I've got real hope that he will sign and with him saying that hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later."