Hearts double bid for Karipidis

HEARTS fly out to Bosnia today to take on Siroki Brjeg in the second leg of the second round Champions League qualifying match with club officials hopeful they can secure the services of Greek defender Hristos Karipidis for future rounds of the tournament.
The PAOK Salonika player is desperate to sign for Hearts to the extent that he met two days ago with Ioannis Goumenos, the Greek club's president, to ask him for permission to move to Scotland.

Salonika originally turned down Hearts' offer of £100,000 for the player but Vladimir Romanov, the Tynecastle club's owner, has now sanctioned a bid of double that amount.
Karipidis has one year left to run on his contract and to receive £200,000 as a form of compensation should be enough to secure his services.
Hearts go to Bosnia with a three goal first-leg lead and are firm favourites to qualify for the third champions league qualifying round, where they would meet AEK Athens.
Karipidis has talked of his desire to move to Scotland and hopes that he would be signed and fit enough to play against AEK Athens.

"I want to sign for Hearts and I am waiting for PAOK to agree with them about the money," he said. "My wish is for it to be done quickly and hopefully the deal will be completed soon."
He added: "I want things completed and I want to be there with Hearts in Bosnia this week and become part of the squad. I cannot do anything to make a deal happen, only the teams can do this."
Karipidis has already sought the advice of countryman Takis Fyssas, who joined Hearts last summer.

"I spoke with Takis Fyssas and he has told me a lot about the club, the country, the players and even the weather," he said. "He says a move to Hearts would work very well for a young player like me. I know they finished in second place last year and have a very good team.
"I am back in Salonika now and I will wait to see what happens with the agreement.
If all goes well, I will fly to Edinburgh as soon as the teams agree."

The expected arrival of Karipidis will give Hearts ample cover in the middle of defence with Christophe Berra, Steven Pressley and Ibrahim Tall all able to play in that position.
AEK Athens have sent club representatives to Bosnia to watch Hearts in European action tomorrow evening although they will not see Paul Hartley, who is likely to miss the match. Hartley was a key figure for the Tynecastle outfit last season but a hamstring strain has kept him out of action so far and his return, possibly against Celtic on Sunday, will give the Edinburgh club an early season boost.

Craig Levein, the former Hearts head coach, yesterday said he believed the side would not fire on all cylinders until Hartley returned from injury or a replacement is found.
Levein said of Hearts' first league match at East End Park on Saturday: "I thought Hearts did all right against Dunfermline, but I think there are a couple of things which have to be borne in mind. Their most influential player Paul Hartley was missing so the midfield was not 100% right.

"Hearts do not have another player like him and struggled to get in touch from the midfield to the strikers. Paul also scored a terrific amount of goals last season, so they are far less potent without him.
"They have not invested in the transfer market yet for another player like him as a back-up. But, if you take away the goals from Hartley and Skacel, then you must be looking to strengthen in that area."

Taken from the Herald