First shout for Pinilla

HEARTS have secured first option to sign their on-loan Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla, and the player has intimated a desire to remain at Tynecastle for the next ten years.

As part of Pinilla's year-long loan deal from Sporting Lisbon, it has been agreed that Hearts have first refusal on the dynamic forward and will therefore have the opportunity to purchase him outright at the end of the season for a nominal fee.

The agreement resembles the one which saw Czech midfielder Rudi Skacel officially join the club in July after spending last season on loan from Marseille, although he was almost instantly sold on to Southampton for £1.6 million.

Pinilla, however, intends to stay around Edinburgh much longer than Skacel and properly imbed himself after becoming the latest darling of the Hearts support. He said: "I am very happy now at Hearts and I am thinking of my immediate future. If things go well I would be happy to stay here for ten years.

"I think only of Hearts, no other clubs are in my mind and I want Hearts to succeed with me in the team."

Pedro Lopez, Hearts' director of infrastructure and the man who conducts all transfer negotiations on the club's behalf, confirmed: "It's a little bit different to the Rudi Skacel deal but the principle is the same. We have the first option on Pinilla."

The South American has played for a host of celebrated European clubs despite his relative youth at just 22 years old. After leaving Universidad de Chile, he had spells with Inter Milan and Chievo in Italy and Celta Vigo in Spain before a £750,000 transfer to Sporting Lisbon two years ago.

Head coach Valdas Ivanauskas is hopeful that Pinilla can find long-term contentment in Edinburgh.

He said: "At the start of the season he was not fit but now his fitness is much better. He has a big chance to stay with Hearts. He is a good player and a good guy who can help us. He is a clever player. He played in Spain in a difficult league and he has adapted very well from the start in Scottish football. I think he had big problems with injuries at all his previous clubs, but without injuries he is a very good player."

Meanwhile, Hearts have less than 400 tickets remaining for the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road on Sunday week.

These are priced at £25 each [no concessions] and are available at the Tynecastle ticket office or by calling 0870 787 1874 and selecting option 1.

A general public sale of tickets is also underway for the home match with Kilmarnock on Saturday, October 21.

Hearts reserves were due to face Motherwell today at Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium, kick-off 2pm.

Taken from the Scotsman