Balogh set to sign Hearts deal until 2011

BARRY ANDERSON
JANOS BALOGH was expected to agree personal terms with Hearts today on a contract until 2011, his agent has revealed.
Alexander Szatmari arrived in Edinburgh yesterday and held productive talks with Anatoli Korobochka, Hearts' sport director, and manager Csaba Laszlo. He was expected to conclude negotiations this afternoon, officially making Balogh a Hearts player and ensuring he is available for Saturday's SPL match against Inverness.

The Edinburgh club agreed a fee of £181,000 with Hungarian side Debrecen for Balogh earlier this week following the expiry of his short-term loan on Monday.

Szatmari confirmed this morning that his dealings with the Tynecastle hierarchy had been extremely smooth and that he did not foresee any late hitches.

"We had a good meeting yesterday about Janos and his contract. It looks like we will finish the deal today," said Szatmari. "We have a meeting in the afternoon and we are very close to finishing the contract, only some small details to talk about. I hope today we will close the deal.

"The contract is until 2011. Janos is very happy because he now has the security and he now wants to play.

"He feels good here and I think there are good opportunities for him."

Szatmari said the long-term plan for Balogh is for him to progress in Scotland before being sold on for considerable profit at a later date.

"I spoke with Anatoli and Csaba and we discussed Janos' situation," he continued. "We talked about what they want from him and I think everyone wants him to progress here and then make a big transfer. He has the capacity to do that."

While several current Hearts players are already being coveted by other clubs, defender Marius Zaliukas has pledged not to allow the situation to distract him as he contends with reported interest from Russia.

"The transfer window is a very important time for clubs and for players but there is nothing you can do," said the Lithuanian. "You just have to go out and play good football and everyone has to wait to see what will happen.

"I just have to concentrate on my own game and make sure that I play to the best of my ability when I am in the team. There have been stories that a few of our players are being watched by big clubs. I am not as young as some of them but it is still nice when someone is watching you because it means you are doing something right. Hopefully, I can keep doing that."

Taken from the Scotsman