Viking aim to plunder Velicka from Hearts

Published on Friday 1 February 2008 09:22

NORWEGIAN club Viking Stavanger are pondering a move for Hearts striker Andrius Velicka after watching the Lithuanian in Wednesday night's CIS Cup semi-final.

Former Rangers forward Egil Ostenstad was in the directors' box at Hampden Park in his capacity at Viking's director of football.

He left impressed by Velicka's industry and will continue to monitor the player with Norway's transfer window not due to close until April 1.

Vladimir Romanov, Hearts' majority shareholder, values Velicka at around 2 million but Viking could test the Russian's resolve if they sell top goalscorer Peter Ijeh in the near future.

He has scored 29 goals in 38 games in the country's Tippeligaen and is likely to fetch around 1m in the transfer market, which could prompt an offer of around 1.5m for Velicka. Viking recently broke their club record transfer fee to sign Czech forward Martin Pillo from Viktoria Plzen at a cost of 900,000.

Officially on loan from FBK Kaunas, Lithuanian internationalist Velicka has scored 12 times for Hearts this season on the back of an 11-goal tally last year. His prowess has also attracted spies from Bolton Wanderers and Bristol City.

Meanwhile Hearts finally completed the signing of Argentinian midfielder Fernando Screpis from FBK Kaunas last night, just hours before the transfer window closed.

The 28-year-old has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract after months of speculation surrounding the player's move to Tynecastle.

Screpis, who is predominantly left-footed, had a trial spell with Hearts last summer and could now make his debut when the Jambos resume their SPL action against Gretna on February 9. He said: "I am very happy to be here. This is a very important step for my career and will do my best for the team. Hearts is a great club and I want to bring trophies to Tynecastle. I can't wait to get started and it's an exciting time for me."

With Screpis' arrival, Hearts now find themselves with a number of options in midfield, however, if Velicka departs, the Gorgie side will have to hope that they remain free of injury or suspension at the top end of the pitch.

And Hearts interim manager Stephen Frail insists he will not hesitate to turn to Ricardas Beniusis during the remainder of the season should Velicka leave.

The transfer window closed last night without a new striking recruit at Tynecastle, although Frail is suitably impressed by Beniusis' determination to hone his talents since arriving in Scotland on loan from Kaunas last July.

The player endured a torrid start to life in Edinburgh but has recovered to offer hints of his capabilities in recent substitute appearances. Frail stressed that Beniusis will continue to feature through to the end of the campaign.

"He can have a role to play. He came on and led the line well against Aberdeen last Saturday when Christian Nade and Andrius Velicka were off," said the former full-back. "Calum (Elliot] was suspended, Michal Pospisil's gone, so there's an opening for Ricardas."

One man who won't be moving to Tynecastle is former Hearts defender Alan Maybury, who last night signed for Aberdeen on loan from Leicester until the end of the season. Maybury had been training with the Jambos recently after failing to secure a place in the Foxes first team this season but the 29-year-old could make his Aberdeen debut in tomorrow's Scottish Cup fifth-round match against Hamilton.