Kazakhstan international Islam Chesnokov could double his salary by joining Russian Premier League side Krylya Sovetov, Eurasia Football reports.
Chesnokov moved to Hearts in January 2026 after his contract with Tobol expired. The winger signed a deal with the Edinburgh club running until the summer of 2028 but was unable to secure a regular place in the team.
In a recent interview with the BorodAbata YouTube channel, Chesnokov revealed that Russian Premier League clubs had offered him more lucrative contracts before his move to Scotland. However, he chose Hearts because he wanted to test himself in Europe.
The player admitted that joining the Scottish club meant accepting a salary reduction of at least 50 per cent. He nevertheless insisted that he did not regret the decision because football and the opportunity to play in Europe were more important to him at the time.
His spell in Scotland lasted less than six months. Hearts confirmed his permanent return to Tobol in late June, with the transfer fee officially undisclosed.
Several media outlets initially claimed that Tobol had paid around €400,000 to bring Chesnokov back. The Kazakh club later denied those reports and stated that the financial terms of the deal were confidential.
According to a more recent report by Kazakh journalist Eldar Amanbayev, the actual transfer package was worth €150,000. Tobol reportedly paid Hearts €50,000 upfront and is due to transfer another €100,000 by the end of the year. These figures have not been officially confirmed by either club.
Chesnokov is now close to joining Krylya Sovetov on a paid loan. The Russian club will reportedly pay Tobol €100,000 for the temporary move. A further €150,000 could be paid if Krylya Sovetov retain their place in the Russian Premier League and the player decides to remain in Samara.
The total value of the deal could therefore reach €250,000.
According to Russian journalist Ivan Karpov, Chesnokov is expected to earn approximately €28,500 per month at Krylya Sovetov — around €342,000 per year excluding bonuses.
The 26-year-old reportedly earned about €14,000 per month, or approximately €168,000 per year, during his time at Hearts. His proposed salary in Russia would therefore be roughly twice as high.
However, the comparison remains approximate. The reported Hearts figure was his net salary, while it is unclear whether the amount offered by Krylya Sovetov is before or after tax.