Exclusive: Hearts sell Velicka

Published on Friday 22 February 2008 16:13

ANDRIUS VELICKA is on his way out of Hearts as the Evening News can reveal that Norwegian club Viking Stavanger have agreed a fee for the top-scoring Lithuanian.

The fee is understood to be in excess of 1 million but Velicka himself is not yet thought to have agreed personal terms.

The move is sure to infuriate Hearts fans who will be concerned at the lack of striking options left for interim boss Stevie Frail.

Velicka was ruled out of tomorrow's crucial clash with third-placed Motherwell due to injury but he probably would not have played anyway as his move to Norway was finalised.

Viking's director of football, former Rangers forward Egil Ostenstad, decided to move for the Lithuanian, who has scored 14 goals this season, after watching him in last month's CIS Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers.

He was impressed by Velicka's workrate and was able to make his move as the Norwegian transfer window does not close until April 1.

Viking recently broke their club record transfer fee to sign Czech forward Martin Pillo from Viktoria Plzen at a cost of 900,000.

They will have broken it again to land Velicka, who is officially on loan to Hearts from FBK Kaunas.

Velicka won the Lithuanian League seven times with Kaunas, and lifted the Lithuanian Cup three times.

As well as his 14 strikes so far this term, the 28-year-old was Hearts' top goalscorer last season with 12 goals in all competitions.

The striker has hit some crucial goals for the Jambos since his arrival 18 months ago, including the double which saw Hearts knock Celtic out of the CIS Cup with a 2-0 win at Parkhead.

He also bagged a brace a fortnight ago in the victory over Gretna – a side which Hearts had previously never beaten over 90 minutes.

After Hearts did not sign any new forwards during the transfer window, and with Mauricio Pinilla injured, Frail's striking options now appear to consist of Christian Nade, Calum Elliot and Ricardas Beniusis.

Czech striker Michal Pospisil was sold to Belgian side Sint Truiden in January.