Korean striker linked with Hearts

THE prospect of Hearts signing the South Korean international striker Ahn Jung-hwan hinge on interim coach Valdas Ivanauskas landing the Tynecastle job on a permanent basis.

Ivanauskas is keen on the player who famously scored the golden goal which knocked Italy out of the last World Cup. Jung-hwan, 30, is under contract with the German side MSV Duisburg but is available for around £500,000 following the club's relegation from the Bundesliga.

An iconic figure in his homeland where he has been compared to David Beckham, the arrival in Scotland of Jung-hwan would create myriad commercial possibilities for Hearts.

His agent, Tom Sanders, said: "I spoke with Valdas two or three times and he told me of his interest in Jung-hwan. But it is not clear if he will be head coach for next season and there is a lot of interest from other clubs."

With Michal Pospisil in talks about a move away from Hearts, the Scottish Cup winners are looking to strengthen their attacking options for next season's bid to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.

They have already run the rule over the Cameroon international Albert Meyong, who plays in Portugal for Belenenses, but is keen to quit the club after they, too, were relegated.

Jung-hwan, who can also play in midfield and in the hole between midfield and attack, is expected in Scotland next week as South Korea coach Dick Advocaat finalises his preparations for next month's World Cup finals with a match against Ghana at Easter Road.

Best known for the extra-time winner which sent the Italians crashing out of the last World Cup, Jung-hwan paid a heavy price for the golden goal. His club at the time, Perugia, axed him for scoring against Italy and he was forced out of Serie A. After eliminating one of the tournament favourites, the Koreans knocked out another when they defeated Spain in the quarter-finals before eventually losing 1-0 to Germany in the semi-finals.

Jung-hwan, who also has experience of playing in France with Metz, is a huge star in his homeland. He is married to a former Miss Korea and is nicknamed Lord of the Rings because he always kisses his wedding ring after scoring.

Widely recognised as Korea's most marketable player, he almost moved to Blackburn Rovers but the deal fell through. According to his agent, he is now coveted by other clubs in Europe, who will need to stump up around 750,000 to free him from his Duisburg contract.

"There are three German clubs willing to pay that," Sanders said. "And there are three English sides interested. But Ahn will probably wait until the World Cup is over to decide his future. I also heard from an agent who mentioned a possibility of Rangers, but I have heard nothing concrete from Glasgow."

Pospisil, meanwhile, is in talks with the Norwegian side Stabaek. The Czech Republic striker met with officials from the club at the weekend. He travelled across to Norway to meet with chairman Einar Schultz and the club are hopeful of sealing a move this week.

Pospisil, 27, has struggled to hold down a regular position at Tynecastle after being signed by former Hearts head coach George Burley for £300,000 from Slovan Liberec last summer. He failed to impress Burley's successor, Graham Rix, and has also seen his opportunities limited under Ivanauskas.

Nevertheless, he scored seven league goals in just 13 starts and also scored one of the penalties in the shoot-out victory over Gretna in the Tennent's Scottish Cup final. He has two years remaining on his contract.

Schultz said: "Pospisil was here visiting us. We had a meeting before he went back to the Czech Republic. He is getting married on Saturday. I am sure he will have a lot to think about in the next week."

Tom Schelvan, Stabaek's director of football, added: "We have been to Scotland to watch Michal play and the player must be interested in us as he came to visit us a week before he gets married. Michal was wanted by us in the last transfer window. He is a very good striker."

Stabaek, one of Norway's biggest clubs, are currently fifth in the Tippeligaen.

Hearts are considering heading to Austria for pre-season training. It is understood Ivanauskas has told owner Vladimir Romanov the Alpine country would be an ideal location to get the players into shape for their Champions League qualifiers.

The players are due to return to their Riccarton training base from holiday at the end of June, with the draw for the second qualifying round made on 23 June.

Ivanauskas is familiar with the facilities on offer in Austria having played for Austria Vienna and Salzburg during the Nineties. The Tynecastle side would travel to the country for a training camp at the beginning of July, with their first Champions League qualifying clash taking place on either 25 or 26 July.

Taken from the Scotsman