Laszlo beefs up Hearts attack by signing Tullberg on loan

HEARTS manager Csaba Laszlo has completed his second summer signing with the capture of striker Mike Tullberg on a season-long loan from Italian outfit Reggina.

The tall Danish forward has done enough to prove to Laszlo he is worth a deal at Tynecastle even though his trial during the recent pre-season trip to Germany was cut short because of a thigh strain.

The 22-year-old, however, has now passed the relevant medical tests, having flown into Edinburgh last week, and could make his debut against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Tullberg, who cost the Serie A outfit £800,000 when he joined from AGF Aarhus in his homeland last summer, watched Hearts beat Motherwell 3-2 in their opening league game on Saturday.

And he admits he can't wait to sample the electric Tynecastle atmosphere.

He said: "I am very happy to be here. I think Scottish football will suit my style. I was at the game on Saturday and had goose-bumps when the players came out because the atmosphere was so fantastic."

Laszlo, who has already signed Ugandan utility player David Obua, said: "We only want to bring quality and I believe Mike is a guy who can help us.

"I think his style, which is very powerful, will suit Scottish football."

Meanwhile, Hearts are considering re-negotiating the terms agreed with the council for land they require for the £51 million redevelopment of a new main stand.

Club officials are debating whether to return to the City of Edinburgh Council with reduced offers given the current UK-wide slump in real estate.

At the start of last year, Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov agreed an £1.8 million deal to buy land occupied by a nursery and adult learning centre.

The Russian-born banker – for phase two of the redevelopment – then also negotiated a £4.1 million agreement for the Tynecastle High School site.

Hearts are still waiting on an answer from the council over planning permission despite submitting the proposals for the new 12,000-seater stand back in January.

However, with the council not expected to make a decision until autumn at the earliest and no money having changed hands, Hearts' power-brokers are now weighing up whether to lodge a reduced offer for the land. Independent assessors Cushman and Wakefield said in a report in February last year that the combined £5.9 million fee offered by Romanov "represents excellent value to the council".

Since that assessment, the price of land throughout Britain has been in decline.