Deans tells Hearts not to sell Berra on the cheap

HEARTS must demand a fee well in excess of £3million from clubs coveting the services of captain Christophe Berra during the January transfer window.

That's the opinion of Leslie Deans, the former Tynecastle chairman, who considers Berra one of Scotland's best defensive prospects and a player more than capable of making the transition to top-level English football.

Fulham representatives watched Berra deliver an outstanding performance against Rangers last Saturday, mindful that they may be faced with the prospect of replacing their Norwegian centre-back, Brede Hangeland, come January.

Hangeland is attracting attention from other clubs, however Berra has also been linked with Feyenoord and Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent months. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy had a £1.5m offer for the 23-year-old rejected in June this year.

Deans insists Hearts are entitled to expect more than double that amount for a player developed through their highly-regarded youth academy, who is contracted until 2011 and is now an established member of the Scotland squad.

"For perhaps the best young central defender in Scotland I would want more than £3m, most definitely," he told the Evening News. "When I see the prices some players change hands for down south, I'd want more than that kind of money for Berra.

"I have a very high regard for that young man and I think he will go on and continue to develop.

"Any club which gets Christophe will get a rock who could play at the centre of their defence for years to come.

"We are kidding ourselves on if we think player sales won't happen. What I want to see is any Hearts player going for maximum value, and preferably south of the border rather than the other end of the M8. As Christophe has said, he is not angling for a transfer and I want him to stay at Tynecastle. I'd prefer to see him in a maroon jersey on January 3 against Hibs, and for the rest of the season."

Meanwhile, Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo successfully argued against a two-match touchline ban during an appeal hearing at the Scottish Football Association yesterday. The SFA decided to uphold his appeal at a meeting of their disciplinary committee. He was issued the ban following Hearts' 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Tynecastle on October 25.

Laszlo was reported for entering the field at full-time and attempting to confront referee Steve Conroy. He became embroiled in a heated exchange with fourth official John McKendrick and then remonstrated with Sandy Clark, the Aberdeen coach. Laszlo argued that he simply followed his usual post-match ritual of going onto the pitch to embrace his men, and the SFA have quashed his punishment.

• GARY MACKAY will be at the Hearts store in St James Shopping Centre tomorrow evening between 6pm and 7pm to sign copies of his new book, Maroon Heart.