Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is still tracking Hearts defender Christophe Berra – despite the price rising to £2m.
Sources north of the border suggest the SPL club are holding out for the increased amount for the recently-capped Scottish international.
Wolves haven’t budged on their second bid of £1.5m, which was lodged several weeks ago.
And although the Edinburgh-based club say they want £2m, history suggests Wolves may be right to stick to their guns.
There were suggestions that Hearts were trying to ‘hawk’ Berra to a Premier League club for £3m, but no one has come forward.
This time last year, Hearts wanted £10m for goalkeeper Craig Gordon, but he went to Sunderland for £9m.
Hearts’ appointment of a new coach – Romanian-born Hungarian Csaba Laszlo – could speed things up, but the key to a deal could be whether Berra wants to come.
But the signs are that patience could be the watchword to what would be Wolves’ second centre-half signing of the summer after Richard Stearman.
McCarthy says he is still looking for players in the ‘young and hungry’ bracket and 24-year-old Berra fits the bill.
“I’m still looking for players of a relatively young age,” he said. “No-one could tell me at 21 that I was inexperienced because I’d played 200 League games.
“That’s the same with ‘Stears’ (Stearman) – he’s only 20 and he’s played 130 games. You can bring someone in who’s 24 but they might not have played many matches.
“Richard is experienced in terms of playing because being at the sharp end is far better.”
Berra’s agent Gary Mackay has recently returned from holiday in Canada and both he and his client are keen to see what the future holds for the player.
Wolves also have a £1m bid in for Norwich defender Jason Shackell, but that deal is unlikely to happen because the Canaries only have two centre-halves.
Laszlo may look at Wolves outcast Denes Rosa, who he managed at Ferencvaros.
30 Comments
With the ins-&-outs of this publicised as oftena as it has, I feel this deal will not come off. I’ve said from the beginning he is exacly what we need, but usually, the deals that come off are ones kept behind closed doors. We can hope though…
“Laszlo may look at Wolves outcast Denes Rosa,”… THE EXPRESS AND STAR HAVE JUST MADE THIS UP, HOW CAN THEY PROOVE THIS?!
may means may not will .
1.5m + rosa & any other transfer listed player.
another gem who’s been shafted by mick - DENES ROSA
you can buy a million players, if you dont play your best ones it means nothing.
how the hell is rosa a gem????? he’s never done anything to suggest he’s any good, stop with all this anti mick rubbish will you!
WS15WOLF- I know it’s saturday and you “may” not be awake yet- but read it again the E&S said Laszlo “managed” him at ferencvaros so one could guess that he “may” or “may” not take a look at him, hope that helps, I could understand if it was a thick crappie fan but really!
He managed Rosa when at frenavouches
i agree with you wisey. When has rosa actually impressed anyone at this club enough to think he is a gem. Its an eastwood all over again! Scores 4 goals does absolutly nothing else and everyone thinks hes the greatest player of all time. Well good riddance eastwood! Because a second rate player like you deserves to be at a second rate club! (here come all the freddy lovers to the rescue)
Just pay the extra £500k Moxey, you might sell a few more season tickets then.
It’s time you put a shift in to earn your fat cat salary.
New Manager at Hearts - It may not be so easy to prize Berra away on the cheap as decent centre halfs are hard to come by - and as for E&S using the Gordon transfer as an example of Hearts accepting less money FFS - there is a massive difference between chicken feed transfer fees - £1.5m and 9m - No comparison whatsoever!
Unlike Mclean at Posh, Berra will attract a few bidders if Hearts wish to sell for Top Dollar - Wonder if MM can off load D Ward, Potter, Elliott & Bothroyd plus some cash??? Maybe their new manager doesnt know how bad this lot really are!
“Berra’s agent Gary Mackay”
not related to Willie I hope
I don’t want to rain on your parade guys but Laszlo has stated he will assess his own squad before moving any players - if that’s the case Berra won’t be going anywhere as he’s one of the better players we have at Hearts. He did seem unsettled before we had a manager but I think Csaba will settle him again. He is however worth pursuing as I reckon he could develop into a very good player indeed - left sided, decent in the air, very fit, quite pacey AND willing to listen and learn. Despite his youth he’s also dealt with the responsibility of captaincy pretty well in recent turbulent times and comes over pretty articulately when interviewed - so seems to have an old head on young shoulders too. Hope we keep him but good luck to him and you if you get him.I hated it when wee Mickey Cameron left us for you so don’t want to see it happen again!
cheers
JamboRuss
12. No, no relation - Gary’s an ex Hearts player and a good guy to boot!
Jamboruss a pleasure to read your post wish others would read and learn instead of just slagging every post that anyone writes.
This lad looks like he’s exactly what we want, Young, Hungry & Talented.
Jambo Russ, if this kid has the same impact as Mickey did, we’re only going to go one way…UP!!
Wishing you and all your mates the very best for the forthcoming season.
UP THE WOLVES!! (AND JAMBOS!!)
jamboruss, wee mickey cameron! colin!! hope we do get berra but it’s his decision, i may pop in at hearts ground on my way up to watch wolves against dundee.
4 wolves ay we, only if they promise to take ward and eliot as well.
wrexham one wolves nil..who was our no4 neva heared of him?
Just checked the wrexham site..we lost 1-0 lol..:)
What’s this “Romanian born Hungarian”. He is a Hungarian born in the Romanian occupied part of Hungary…
hope hes good. got to work hard keeping kevin philips out….
good luck in the fizzy pop division playing plymouth ect ect..
even thou the teams are rubbish id say midtable for you netto carrier bag fans
get your act together mick and moxey and start bringing some more players or it will be league one football for us
Mickey Cameron- now he was a player! Never let anyone down and left owing us absolutely nothing. Just a shame we didn’t get him a couple of years earlier.
I’d like us to pursue Berra although the new manager at Hearts could slow things down even more if he wants to assess the players he’s got.
jamboruss, If he is as good as Colin then I am gonna be impressed, got any more jock’s wanna cum down south if that’s ya pedigree
said it before, going no where the McCarthy way
Who is Mickey Cameron??????
27:
Colin “Mickey Mouse” Cameron!
Chris Iwelumo about to sign
Hearts manager announced on SSN that Berra is going nowhere this season - So either Wolves have to pay more than £2m to get him or forget it!
Boggies sent Curtis Davies to Villa on loan with a view to permenant move and went out and bought the lad from Luton for £3m - no messing around as quality will hold and improve its value - what do we do? Mess about trying to do “deals” that wont come off for the better players as Hearts can hold out to sell Berra for more money! Amateur very amateur! Why not go and loan a Prem centre half whilst we still have time???