Palace end bid as Hearts snub £300,000 for Christian Nade

HEARTS have refused a £300,000 offer from Crystal Palace for striker Christian Nade, with Vladimir Romanov valuing the Frenchman at double that figure.

Neil Warnock, manager of the English Championship side, stressed today that he will not return with another bid after being rebuffed for Nade and has now turned his attention to alternative signing targets.

Watford are monitoring the situation and may be willing to meet Romanov's £600,000 asking price. However, that would be conditional upon them raising funds by negotiating the £3million sale of defender Danny Shittu, who is attracting serious interest from Rangers.

Nade, 23, arrived in Edinburgh last August from Sheffield United for a fee reported to be in the region of £500,000. However, the Evening News has learned that Hearts have paid just £220,000 for the player to date.

Romanov, the club's majority shareholder, is now holding out for hefty profit on a player he is keen to offload.

Warnock told the Evening News that Hearts' demands for Nade were excessive, saying: "We won't be taking it any further because they are asking too much money. We offered £300,000 for Nade but we won't be going any higher."

Watford would be willing to match Nade's £4000-a-week wage at Tynecastle if they decide to submit an official offer, although negotiations with club officials may prove difficult while Romanov attempts to recruit a new manager.

Nade has largely flattered to deceive in Scotland, scoring just five goals in 27 appearances last season. Coaching staff at Riccarton harbour concerns over his general fitness and, provided Romanov receives his desired price, the striker is expected to leave before the transfer window closes on August 31.

He would become the latest in a series of first-team departures.

Meanwhile, Hearts were due to take their place at European football's most prestigious table today as the continent's top clubs convene in Geneva to form the board of the new European Club Association.

Along with Newcastle United, the Tynecastle side are the new inductees to a group previously recognised as the elite G14 forum. Hearts' representative in Switzerland is Mindaugas Nikolicius, a financial consultant from the club's parent company, Ukio Bankas Investment Group.

He will take part in an initiation that will see Hearts join illustrious European sides such as Real Madrid, Manchester United and AC Milan as part of a new association to protect the interests of top clubs.