Hearts move for O'Brien

HEARTS have made a bold bid to snap up Livingston captain Burton O'Brien, the Evening News can reveal.

The 23-year-old is understood to be considering a lucrative three-year deal from the Tynecastle outfit.

The contract, which it's believed represents a significant improvement on his current terms with the Lions, is one of a number of options being considered by the talented midfielder whose agreement with the West Lothian outfit expires at the end of this month.

O'Brien is poised to quit the club and pursue his career elsewhere next season, with Leicester City boss Craig Levein known to be keen to persuade him to join the growing band of former SPL stars at the Walkers Stadium.

Livingston are understood to have offered their captain a hefty pay hike to remain in West Lothian but it's thought he sees his future elsewhere.

Former Tynecastle manager John Robertson made no secret of his admiration of the quality of O'Brien during his brief Gorgie tenure and identified both the Lions star and Lee Miller as players he thought would significantly strengthen the first-team squad.

He was successful in his pursuit of the striker, the 22-year-old proving a smash hit during his loan spell from Bristol City. However, last night saw Dundee United beat Hearts and Aberdeen in the race for his signature with Miller signing a three-year deal for a fee of £225,000.

It is understood that the Gorgie outfit has been monitoring Celtic fan O'Brien's situation in recent weeks and the offer by chief executive Phil Anderton to the Almondvale skipper reflects the club's vow to bring exciting players to the Capital under Lithuanian Vladimir Romanov's regime.

Hearts were also keeping tabs on O'Brien's team-mate David McNamee but the Scotland defender's Achilles heel injury has scuppered any chance of a summer move.

Former Celtic striker Mark Burchill and winger Joe Hamill, meanwhile, are close to finally agreeing one-year deals with the club. They should join the likes of Christophe Berra, Craig Sives and Graham Weir in committing themselves to the Tynecastle club by the beginning of next week.

Taken from the Scotsman