Czech striker Bednar expected to sign for Hearts

HEARTS manager George Burley is close to making Czech striker Roman Bednar his third signing following talks yesterday with the player's agent.

A deal for his compatriot Michal Pospisil is also on the cards with the player due to have a medical in Kaunas, home city of Hearts major shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

The pair started Hearts' friendly against Middlesbrough last Wednesday but Pospisil had to be replaced due to the recurrence of a thigh injury. Bednar featured until the interval and impressed against experienced former England centre-half Gareth Southgate.

Bednar, 22, plays for Czech side Mlada Boleslav and was voted 'discovery of the year' last season. Pospisil, 26, also plays in the Czech league, for Slovan Liberc,

Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas said: "I think it's very likely that we will unveil Bednar on Wednesday, it's not 100 per cent yet but I can see that happening. We are finalising the documents and everything is nearly completed with him.

"Although we are nearly there with Bednar, things are not quite there with Pospisil. But we hope we will be able to say something on that either on Wednesday or the day after."

Pospisil said yesterday he was hopeful of making the move to Edinburgh permanent and claimed to be close to agreeing terms with Hearts.

"The Scots are interested, we have agreed on the terms more or less," he said. "It all depends on the agreement of both clubs now. It is hopefully on the right way, Liberec are ready to negotiate. I have received a permit to travel for health tests, which means something."

Pospisil was impressed by his visit to Edinburgh last week and is hopeful of becoming a Hearts player despite reported interest from German side Duisburg.

"There are very pleasant people, the coach George Burley is a very nice man," Pospisil said of Hearts. "The team plays a European style of soccer. It should suit me.

"The new team is being created, the club has a beautiful stadium and fantastic fans. There were 18,000 fans at the friendly.

"Of course I want to get better financial conditions and learn English properly, these are the main reasons. I would like to play in another league as well, I have spent some time in the Czech Gambrinus Liga already."

Burley, who has already signed Czech international Rudi Skacel and Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas, is also understood to be running the rule over defenders Michael Lamey, currently with PSV Eindhoven, and Sochaux's Senegalese player Ibrahim Tall. Only one is expected to be offered a deal.

• Former Hearts striker Ricardo Fuller is wanted by Southampton but Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric has warned the relegated club they will not land him for free.

Mandaric claims Saints have enquired about the 25-year-old Jamaica international, whom manager Harry Redknapp signed for the club when he was at Fratton Park.

Taken from the Scotsman