Hearts resist further Berra interest

Monday 14th July 2008, 11:57AM BST.

berra2.jpegWolves’ push to sign defender Christophe Berra from Hearts has been met by stiff resistance from new coach Csaba Laszlo.

Berra is wanted by Rangers as well as Wolves, who have bid £1.5m for the 24-year-old, but the Romanian-born Hungarian wants all his players to stay at Tynecastle.

He said: “If you have a good player, everybody is interested in him. We know the young players have the ability to take the team to a better level.

“I’d like to keep these players but if the possibility is there to sell them, then we wouldn’t stop their careers developing.

“Cristiano Ronaldo might move to Real Madrid. Football players always have the opportunity to move. If they feel comfortable at a club you have more chance of keeping them.

“My intention is to show these players their duty is here and I hope to work together with them.

“I will tell them that, if we can reach Europe with Hearts, there will be better opportunities to expose them.

“There are many possibilities for Hearts to reach Europe. We could win the cup or finish second or third in the league. This is my intention.”

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is almost resigned to the notion that any deal with Berra will not happen quickly.

He admitted: “We’re no further forward with anything and will just keep looking.”

The club also appear no closer to moving on any of their seven available players, after the £1.2m departure of Freddy Eastwood to Coventry was completed on Friday.

Wolves still have Rob Edwards, Darren Ward and Stephen Elliott – who all played a half in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Wrexham – as well as Darren Potter, Jay Bothroyd, Charlie Mulgrew and Denes Rosa on the transfer list.


  1. 1
    brummie rob wolves

    Hearts realistically are not going to challenge Celtic or Rangers but they could sneak into Europe and get knocked out first round. If he has any ambitions, he has to look at Wolves or Rangers.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    bill

    forget about all this, if Rob Edwards is fit pair him up with Spearman at centre back and take him off the list

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Golden Blood

    I remeber when Breen and Craddock were injured 2 seasons ago and we played, Collins and Edwards at the back together. They were rock solid. What a pairing that was.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    hindmarch

    Is nobody else concerned that we only appear to be actively pursuing one SPL player to remedy a problem spanning for 2 years.
    (Spearman played 42 games as full back, suggesting that he is a no better C/H than Kisnorbo and McCauley.)
    And the attention now remains squarly on Berra.
    I hope our scouting network has other irons in the fire. Maybe this deal falling through wouldn’t be such a terrible thing – the pressure on this lad’s shoulders will be enormous after so much rumour and talk.
    Gabor Gypes and Mikkel Bischoff would still make our 11 on merit, and we shot them out ages ago.

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Jacko

    Maybe time to take another look closer to home at Gerrard.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    WOSSA IN TENERIFE

    Its Stearman not Spearman you plonkers 2 & 4 I know I used to use the Fielhouse in Wightwick for years.His old man was the landlord.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Wolf72

    (6) Wossa, I don’t want to be the one that points out to you that it is actually the FIELDHOUSE….glass houses and stones and all that!?!?!

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Grace

    Bill

    The biggest word in your post is IF, that’s why he is being released, the lad can play but can’t stay fit, which is unfortunate.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Wolves boo-boy

    He made be a target, but what about the local lads, come Mick give them a chance.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Stoke Wolves

    Forget Berra and move to another target, this one has dragged on for light years. Perhaps Anthony Gardner of Spurs might be a better option, similar age to Berra, a Stafford lad and good on the ball with plenty of experience at the highest level.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    southbank barmy army

    BRUMMIE ROB.. If he has any ambitions, he has to look at Wolves or Rangers.

    ERMM JUST RANGERS THERE SON..WE’LL NEVER SEE EUROPEAN FOOTABLL IN OUR LIFETIME..LET ALONE HIS CAREER.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    scotwolf

    we seem to have missed the boat on berra, they should have gone in with best offer and got him before anyone else showed and interest.

    i agree with others who else for this position are we looking at.

    also how can we say to players at the end of the season sorry your not good enough you can go then we turn around and say we need you to play. why on earth was ward/elliot/edwards playing on saturday if they are transfer listed. is it we cannot shift them on and havn’t got replacements and this is a way of getting round it without admitting it. did we not spend £1million on both elliot and ward who is going to pay that for either.

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.