Ahn agent urges Hearts to open talks or miss out

HEARTS have been warned that they risk missing out on the signing of Ahn Jung-hwan after the South Korea international's agent revealed he is growing tired waiting on the Tynecastle club to proceed with talks.

The Edinburgh side targeted Ahn back in May, before the player's involvement at the World Cup. The striker is available for £500,000 from German club MSV Duisburg and has suitors in both the English Premiership and Spain's Primera Liga.

Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas has attempted to keep the chance of a deal alive while seeking a definite answer from majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. But Sanders said: "I don't know what they want. I have not spoken to them at all recently.

"I have heard the rumours that they no longer want the player and they haven't contacted me so I think the deal is maybe off now and we can start looking elsewhere."

He added: "I cannot keep waiting. Valdas knows this. He is very keen on Ahn but there is no definite answer from Hearts. Ahn wants to come to Hearts but there are two clubs in England and two in Spain who want to sign him and their pre-season is starting so they want him now."

Hearts, meanwhile, will tonight have a better idea of the obstacle that lies between them and a possible glamour Champions League clash with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Inter Milan or Valencia.

The Tynecastle side were last month paired with the winners of the first qualifying-round clash between Bosnians Siroki Brijeg and Shakhtyor of Belarus. The east European duo meet in the first leg in Belarus this evening, with the Bosnians entering the tie as seeds but with Shakhtyor installed as favourites by Ivanauskas.

The SPL club will keep a close eye on the match knowing that an aggregate victory when they enter the competition at Murrayfield on 26 July would pitch them into a final qualifying-round draw as one of the unseeded teams.

Siroki coach Ivica Barbaric says that the prospect of a visit to Murrayfield - Hearts' home for their European matches this season - will drive his players to success tonight.

He said: "I think that we can go into the second round. Our first leg-game against Shakhtyor is away so if we make sure we do not lose any goals, we will be in a good position to face Hearts.

"That would be terrific because having the opportunity to play against one of the best Scottish clubs would be a great reward for our players."