Neil-y done

HEARTS were today closing in on a deal to bring Liverpool striker Neil Mellor to Tynecastle after impressing the player with their offer of contract terms. Mellor and his representatives held top-level discussions with Hearts at an undisclosed location last week, during which an offer thought to be in the region of £7000 a week was made.

With Neil McCann arriving in Edinburgh today to confirm his Hearts return and Bosnian winger Mirsad Beslija also expected to be unveiled this week, pending the arrival of a work permit, head coach Graham Rix could take his signing total to five in the coming days after securing Lee Johnson and Nerijus Barasa last week.

English Championship side Wolves and Sheffield United are also harbouring interest in Mellor, however Hearts' reported coveting of Anthony Le Tallec, another Liverpool forward, has waned after it emerged the player is unable to play competitively for another club this season.

Le Tallec has appeared for Liverpool and is currently on loan at Sunderland, and FIFA rules forbid players from playing for three different clubs in one season.

Rix was positively crowing after Saturday's 4-1 demolition of Dunfermline at East End Park and has spent the remainder of his weekend attempting to conclude a deal for McCann, who had his contract at Southampton cancelled last week.

Hearts have beaten off Premiership sides Fulham, Sunderland and Wigan to McCann, whose Tynecastle homecoming is likely to be confirmed with an unveiling tomorrow and is certain to be welcomed by supporters with memories of his part in the club's 1998 Scottish Cup win still relatively fresh.

And Rix, who unveiled Barasa at Tynecastle today, has moved to quash any speculation that McCann and supporters' cult hero Rudi Skacel cannot both be accommodated at Tynecastle.

"If Rudi is injured or suspended, who do we play?" queried Rix. "We are hoping to sign Neil for the same reason we signed Nerijus Barasa. I want competition for places and, if the players we have continue to play as they did against Dunfermline, then whoever I bring in is going to toil to get in the team."

Tickets for Hearts' Scottish Cup fourth round tie with Aberdeen went on sale last Friday to season ticket holders, with the public sale due to commence this Friday.

Tickets are priced at £20-£25 for adults and £10-£15 for concessions, and Hearts are planning to recreate the atmosphere at the last game between the two sides at Tynecastle when the club launched its hugely successful "flag day".

More than 11,000 tickets are available for Hearts fans.

Meanwhile, Hearts and Hibs face each other tomorrow at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling. The match has a 2pm kick-off.

Taken from the Scotsman