I'll turn Berra into £20m man, says Laszlo

Darren Johnstone
HEARTS manager Csaba Laszlo has warned club owner Vladimir Romanov it would be premature to sell Christophe Berra in January – claiming he can turn the defender into a £20million player.

It is thought cash-flow problems could lead to the Lithuanian banker making Hearts' prized-assets available for transfer next month with captain Berra, Bruno Aguiar, Laryea Kingston, Andrew Driver and Marius Zaliukas all being linked with moves out of Tynecastle.

The recent delay over the payment of the squad's wages has marred the team's impressive run of five straight SPL victories ahead of today's encounter in Glasgow against Celtic.

News that Belarusian side MTZ-Ripo, a club sponsored by Romanov, have failed to pay their players for the past six months has also triggered alarm bells among the Gorgie faithful.

Despite admitting to speaking with Romanov in the past week, Laszlo claims the subject of selling players during the next transfer window was not broached.

However, the Hungarian was clear in his message to his paymaster that he believes Scotland cap Berra should not be sold next month. Laszlo, who was noncommittal over reports he is interested in out-of-favour Celtic striker Chris Killen, said: "I can't tell you what will happen in January but I hope we don't have to sell players. I hope this will be okay.

"I talk every day with the sport director (Anatoly Korobochka), the football department and the owner and we have the intention to build a good team.

"We also have the intention to buy and sell, this is normal. It is also my intention to be successful.

"Believe me, if Christophe Berra can bring £10million into this club then I can maybe find another player who is talented like Christophe and who can play together with Zaliukas.

"This club sold Craig Gordon, maybe the best goalkeeper in Scotland for years, for £9million and I think this was a great offer. You know how much Bayern Munich paid for Luca Toni? £7million. If this club could sell Berra for £10million it would be great. But we would like to keep him.

"I would like to make Christophe Berra into a player who could bring in £20 million."

While Laszlo has no intention of dismantling a side that has won their last five straight league games to re-ignite hopes of splitting the Old Firm, he insists money must be made available to find replacements if Hearts supporters' fears are realised and the higher earners are sold. He added: "I have a job and my job is to be a manager and plan what happens in my department.

"You have to ask the question about players being sold to people who have the responsibility in that department.

"If you lose four or five players I don't think this is a good development for us. But if we could get five or six other players which I would like to have, it would be okay. A lot of people think if you can sign a good player then that is good. But the important thing is how they play in the team."

After bring grilled over the club's intentions during January, Laszlo was relieved to return to on-field matters when asked if his players would be shooting from long-range against goalkeeper Artur Boruc this afternoon.

The Polish international was left red-faced in Celtic's 2-0 loss at Hibs last week after midfielder John Rankin scored with a goal that squirmed past him from 45 yards. Laszlo, who insists nine points against Celtic, Dundee United and Hibs over the festive period would be the perfect Christmas present, said: "My players practise shooting from 60 metres but I would hope my team can get closer to goal than that.

"Hibs were never very near to the Celtic goal. I think we can get nearer.

"This was a very funny game. It was a funny shot and we saw it earlier on DVD. I don't know, maybe the goal- keeper was dreaming a little bit, but it was definitely a mistake. But it also showed great confidence from the player that he wanted to shoot from 40 metres, it was fantastic. We must have the same confidence and maybe try to shoot from the halfway line."

Meanwhile, long-serving defender Robbie Neilson has revealed he has opened contract talks with the club with a view to extending his current deal which expires during the summer.

The right-back has experienced the highs and lows of the Romanov era as the sole survivor from the squad that the Lithuanian inherited at the start of 2005.

He said: "My contract is up in the summer. We have just opened talks and we will see how it goes over the next few months.

"I would like to stay and we will see what happens."

Taken from the Scotsman