Hearts buy Balogh in delayed £181,000 deal

STUART BATHGATE
HEARTS have secured the services of Janos Balogh on a permanent basis – and will not have to pay for doing so until the end of the season, according to the goalkeeper's former club.

Balogh was one of manager Csaba Laszlo's first signings at Tynecastle, although initially he only moved on loan from Debrecen. That loan period expired yesterday, but now, provided the player agrees personal terms, the move has become permanent. "The two teams have agreed terms so the Hungarian international goalie can continue his career in Scotland," said a statement on the Debrecen website. "The Scottish outfit decided to buy the player for €200,000 (£181,000] including the loan fee. The payment will be delayed until May as per the request of Hearts."

A brief statement on the Edinburgh club's website confirmed the deal without mentioning a sum or when it was due, but a spokesman for Hearts later confirmed Debrecen's account of the transfer was accurate. The size of the initial fee for taking Balogh on loan has not been specified, but it is understood it has not yet been paid and will therefore be included in the lump sum due in four months' time.

Hearts have offered the 26-year-old a three-year deal, and hope to reach an agreement in time for him to be in the squad for the home league match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday. Balogh sat out last Saturday's league win at Kilmarnock because of injury.

Meanwhile, the Hearts squad will be joined in training this week by two trialists from FBK Kaunas. Marius Cinikas and Begantas Zubavicius are expected to arrive at the club's Riccarton training academy today, and are due to spend the rest of the week there. Cinikas is a 22-year-old forward and a former under-21 international, while Zubavicius, 24, is a midfielder.

Midfielder Michael Stewart is also expected to train today after having apparently recovered from taking a shin knock during the weekend's 2-0 win at Rugby Park. "He was walking okay yesterday so there shouldn't be any problem," Laszlo said.

Taken from the Scotsman