Laszlo beefs up Hearts attack by signing Tullberg on loan

Published on Monday 11 August 2008 23:53

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.