A-League newcomers Melbourne Heart are closing in on two overseas-based players to further strengthen an imposing squad bolstered by the surprise addition of Socceroo defender Michael Beauchamp.
The Heart look set to hit the ground running when their inaugural season kicks off in August after World Cup hopeful Beauchamp became the club’s 16th signing on a multi-year deal.
Chief executive Scott Munn said the Heart were now working on securing two internationals to further flesh out a squad looking on paper among the strongest in the competition.
One is believed to be ex-Socceroo midfielder Josip Skoko, while head coach John van’t Schip is currently visiting his native Holland in an attempt to secure the other.
“We’ve got another two international announcements to make – one is a striker we’re looking to finalise now,” Munn said.
“John has gone back to Holland and is meeting some people over there. We’re also talking to another Australian marquee player.
“Our position is by the end of this month we’d like to have both of those players.”
Beauchamp, 29, is part of the extended Socceroos squad hoping to be selected for the World Cup in South Africa and has spent the past four years playing in Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East.
The former Central Coast Mariners centre-back has just fought his way back into the international reckoning, and joins the Heart from United Arab Emirates-based club Al-Jazira.
“Coming to Melbourne is a great opportunity for me to get playing regularly again, and I know a lot of the boys and the coaching staff and have only heard good things about the structure of the club,” Beauchamp said.
“I didn’t really look into it (remaining overseas). I felt this was the right move for me.”
Beauchamp is certain to slot into the Heart’s first-team defence alongside ex-Sydney FC star Simon Colosimo.
It gives the Heart a Socceroo-packed defence, with former Sydney FC goalkeeper Clint Bolton and left-sided defender Dean Heffernan also aboard.
Beauchamp is also a former teammate of Colosimo, Bolton and assistant coach Ante Milicic from their NSL days with Parramatta Power.
“When you’re building a new team you particularly want to be solid at the back, and we got a slight suspicion Michael might be interested in coming back to Australia,” Milicic said.
“I’ve played with him and I know what he’s like as a character and as a person. He’s a great professional and it’s a massive signing for us.”
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