Berra signs deal to keep him at Hearts until 2008

HEARTS star Christophe Berra has signed a new three-year deal with the Gorgie club, the Evening News can reveal.

The talented centre-half, who had 12 months of his current agreement to run, has been involved in discussions for some weeks and those negotiations have been concluded successfully with the player agreeing a deal which will keep him at Tynecastle until 2008.

Berra has impressed as an understudy for both skipper Steven Pressley and Andy Webster this season and played for the Scotland Future team in the recent clash in Austria.

Highly regarded by the Jambos, the youngster has been named in the Scotland Under-21 squad for the forthcoming double-header against Moldova at Firhill Stadium and Belarus in Minsk.

Talks with the defender, who made his first-team debut under Craig Levein, had commenced before the sacking of John Robertson and caretaker boss John McGlynn is delighted the 20-year-old has committed his long-term future to the club.

"Christophe has great potential and when called upon to deputise for Steven Pressley or Andy Webster has done very well," he said.

"It is now up to him to force the issue and push for a position on a more regular basis. He has been with us since the Under-16 Youth Initiative League.

"He has a lot of the raw materials to be a top-class central defender in that he has a solid physique, is strong in the air and very quick.

"He has got better and better since we took him on full time and while he still has a wee bit to go, he has a great attitude and we have high hopes for him."

Securing Berra's future is a further boost for the Tynecastle club after Craig Sives agreed to sign a new two-year contract, while Gary Tierney, Marco Pelosi and goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald have all penned one-year contracts.

MacDonald, in fact, was today due to check in with the senior Scotland squad at their training camp, the young shot-stopper having been asked to help out over the next three days with both Rab Douglas and David Marshall preparing for Celtic's Tennent's Scottish Cup Final clash against Dundee United at Hampden on Saturday.

"It will be a great experience for the lad," said McGlynn.

Aberdeen, meanwhile, appear to be closing in on a deal for striker Lee Miller.

The front man had talks with Dons director of football Willie Miller yesterday and the Pittodrie club are hopeful of concluding a deal within the next couple of days after seeing a £175,000 bid for Dundee's Steve Lovell rejected and a £150,000 offer for Kris Boyd dismissed by Kilmarnock.

The Evening News can also reveal that former Hearts playmaker Neil Janczyk is poised to kick-start his career with first division St Johnstone.

Saints boss Owen Coyle has been tracking the midfielder, who has been released by the Jambos after failing to establish himself as a first-team player, and could complete the deal by the end of the week.

Janczyk recently spent a week on trial with Coventry City.

Taken from the Scotsman