Hibs undercut as Hearts snatch Hackett

HEARTS have struck the first blow of derby week by snatching Oxford United winger Chris Hackett from under the noses of Capital rivals Hibs.

As revealed in the Evening News last week, Hackett had talks with officials at Easter Road and was keen on a move, but that was before his former manager at Oxford, Graham Rix, declared his interest in the player.

Hackett has since been embroiled in detailed discussions with Rix and has now agreed to sign on at Tynecastle. Hearts have also agreed the transfer with Oxford United manager Brian Talbot, with the only outstanding issue being Oxford's demands of a fee for one of their most promising assets.

Directors at the Kassam Stadium are hoping to hold out for a six-figure sum for Hackett, which would allow him to move during the January transfer window with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

However, Hearts are unlikely to be held to such a ransom and may opt to secure the player on a pre-contract agreement, in which case he would not arrive until the summer and Oxford would still be due a nominal fee under UEFA rules which govern the transfers of free agents under the age of 24.

Hackett's snubbing of Hibs in favour of their greatest adversaries is sure add an extra element of spice to Saturday's derby confrontation at Tynecastle.

Oxford remain reluctant to lose Hackett, who has developed into one of the club's most consistent and popular players since coming through their youth system. Talbot labelled him "the best winger in the league" earlier this season and as a former Oxfordshire sprint champion he will offer Rix a deadly injection of pace down the right flank.

The move for Hackett will again put into question the long-term future of Saulius Mikoliunas at Tynecastle, with the Lithuanian's loan deal from FBK Kaunas set to expire in seven days' time.

Hearts' proposed £850,000 transfer of Mirsad Beslija from the Belgian club Racing Genk remains alive for the moment, however officials in Belgium are becoming increasingly concerned at the lack of activity on the move.

Genk's sporting director Ariel Jacobs said today: "Nothing has changed and we are still in the same position as last week with Hearts.

"I think there are three losers if this deal does not progress. Hearts will lose out on a very fine player and they wanted him. Mirsad wanted to go because he saw in Hearts a very fine Scottish club, and we were willing to co-operate for a move to Hearts for Mirsad. So at the moment we have three losers.

"Let's hope that all parties might be winners in the course of the week."

Hearts are still awaiting international clearance to complete the signing of Australian midfielder Matthew Park from Frankston Strikers of Melbourne. It is expected that the deal will be concluded later this week.

Taken from the Scotsman