Laszlo will ask Vlad to resist selling his big stars

COLLEEN PATERSON
CSABA LASZLO will plead with Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov to knock back big-money bids for his star players but admitted today that the Lithuanian banker may be faced with offers that he simply cannot refuse.
Christophe Berra and Andrew Driver are believed to have been the subject of inquiries from clubs in the English Premiership and Europe this week, with the Tynecastle side set to cash in to the tune of £4.5million if their transfers go ahead.

With the club's finances straining in the credit crunch, Hearts are believed to be looking to bring in more than £5m in transfer fees during the current window.

However Laszlo, who revealed that he is confident Hearts will agree a new deal for goalkeeper Janos Balogh with Debrecen, conceded that he would prefer his young stars to stay for at least another season in Gorgie to ensure that they have fully developed their potential.

He said: "I have given the board a list of names that I am interested in, not only for now but also for the future. I have read a lot of speculation in the newspapers but at the moment Berra is here, Kingston is here, Driver is here, Mike Stewart is here, Christos Karipidis is here.

"But everyone is for sale really – even me, I have my price. Believe me, if a club came in and offered £2m for Csaba Laszlo, then I am sure that Mr Romanov would say okay! Seriously though, everyone has their price, even Driver or Berra. A lot of agents want to take young players from us and that is fantastic. They don't talk about £100,000, they talk about millions. That shows how good our players are.

"I have spoken to Driver and said 'okay everyone has their price, but for your development it would be good to stay here to develop your game, to be stronger physically and mentally. If you move to another team then it should be to a team better than us and one where you will play football every week. If you don't play then you have nothing, even if you have another £10,000 in your pocket'.

"This is the same thing that I have told Berra and our other young players. I like to guide them, they need to use their head and not listen to a lot of people who are interested only in money.

"There is the possibility that I could say to Mr Romanov that I would like to keep certain players but I do not know that this would work, it is only my opinion. I think that I am a bad guy and a bad manager if I don't give my opinion."

Balogh, ironically, was nursing a neck injury ahead of today's trip to Rugby Park.

Laszlo was set to bring Michael Stewart back into his starting line-up to replace the injured Ruben Palazuelos after dropping the former Manchester United youngster for the double header with Hibs earlier this month following the player's loss of form.

The Hearts boss was dissatisfied with his player's recent performances, but says that he has seen a huge improvement in Stewart's effort and application over the course of the last couple of week.

"Mike Stewart has trained very well this week and we have had a good conversation.

"When I came here, Mike Stewart was in fantastic shape, he worked very hard and he was in the national side. Over the last two weeks he has worked hard in training and with what he has shown me with his attitude, this is the real Mike Stewart again.

"This is what I want from him all the time, definitely."

Meanwhile David Obua has insisted that the Hearts supporters have still to see the best of him after the first few months of his Hearts career was hampered by injury.

The midfielder has started just a handful of matches for the Tynecastle side this season after picking up an injury during pre-season and then suffering another problem in the CIS Cup defeat to Airdrie later in the campaign.

He also suffered the anger of some fans at Motherwell in between the derbies.

However, he started against Hibs at Easter Road last weekend and is now hoping that he can make a real impression on Laszlo's side. Obua said: "I've enjoyed my time with Hearts but it is so difficult when you get injuries. It makes it difficult to get into the team.

"It's been hard for me to get back in there. I have been hurt and now I have to work hard and make sure I am back in the side. When the team is doing well and winning it can be even more difficult to come in and take their spot. I have to go out and fight for my spot, that is normal in football, and I think I am getting there.

"The Hearts fans have definitely still to see the best of me. I have been here for a few months now but I got hurt when I was in Germany for pre-season and it really held me back.

"Of course there is a pressure for me to go out and play well but it will come and I will stay positive. The fans are demanding and they expect a lot from their players but that is normal when you are at a big club and it is all good."

Taken from the Scotsman