When Lennon Miller burst onto the Scottish Premiership stage as a 16-year-old, it was clear he was destined for bigger things. Now 18 and a full Scotland international, the Motherwell midfielder is on the brink of completing a £4.5 million move to Udinese after reportedly travelling to Italy for a medical. Interest came from across Scotland, England, Germany, and beyond — but Serie A has won the race.
In Edinburgh, Lennon Miller’s transfer is being watched with more than passing interest. While his move from Fir Park to Italy has no direct bearing on Hearts, there’s an obvious ripple effect at Tynecastle. Miller’s market value offers a real-world benchmark for Hearts’ own teenage star, James Wilson.
The parallels are striking. Both are 18. Both already have senior Scotland caps. Both are among the country’s brightest young talents. Lennon Miller’s fee comfortably surpasses Motherwell’s previous club-record sale — the £3.25m move of David Turnbull to Celtic in 2020 — and in doing so, it sets a reference point for what Hearts could command for Wilson in the future.
That future, however, won’t be immediate. Wilson is under contract until the summer of 2027, while Miller’s deal at Motherwell was running down into its final year. Hearts have no plans to sell their prized asset anytime soon, especially after his historic Scotland debut in March’s Nations League play-off against Greece made him the youngest player ever to represent the national team. Unsurprisingly, Premier League scouts have been circling since he signed his first professional contract.
Lennon Miller leaves Motherwell after 76 senior appearances, with five goals and 11 assists, plus two Scotland caps in June friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein. Wilson’s numbers — 41 Hearts appearances, eight goals, three assists, and four European outings — underline why he’s viewed in similar regard.
Hearts are determined to avoid past missteps. Aaron Hickey’s 2020 move to Bologna — criticised for its modest initial fee and pre-agreed sell-on — still lingers in memory. With investor Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics now involved, there’s confidence they can maximise returns when the time is right. Recent business, such as turning a six-figure profit on Daniel Oyegoke’s January move to Hellas Verona, suggests a far sharper approach to the market.
The Italian route has proved fruitful for Scottish talent. Hickey’s later £14m transfer to Brentford, Lewis Ferguson’s rise to Bologna captain (now valued at £30m), and the interest from giants like Juventus, AC Milan, and Napoli all reinforce Serie A’s reputation as a launching pad. The Premier League remains the ultimate financial lure, but Scottish clubs now know they can secure top-tier fees from multiple destinations.
For now, Derek McInnes sees Wilson as a key figure in his reshaped Hearts squad, with regular minutes and further Scotland call-ups likely during the autumn’s World Cup qualifiers. A big-money move is almost inevitable in the long run, but Miller’s imminent transfer to Italy ensures Hearts will have a clear starting figure when the bidding begins.
