Calderwood tells Webster 'it's up to you' on Hibs move

Calderwood admitted capturing the signature of Webster, released by Rangers on transfer deadline day, would be "a superb addition" to his Easter Road squad, having already brought in six new faces over the course of the past week.

But he also knows he faces intense competition to land the 28-year-old defender, not least from Capital rivals Hearts, who are hoping to tempt Webster into a return to Tynecastle.

Dundee United, captained to Scottish Cup glory by Webster last season as he spent a season on loan at Tannadice, are also interested in the player who is a free agent and so can sign outside a transfer window but so, too, are a number of English Championship sides.

Calderwood, having watched his side finally end their run of 12 matches without a win as Derek Riordan and David Wotherspoon grabbed Hibs' first goals of 2011 to sink St Mirren in last night's crucial SPL clash, said: "We have had contact. The decision is entirely his, but he would be a superb addition." However, Hearts boss Jim Jefferies also voiced his hope of persuading Webster to return to Gorgie, the player having ended a five-year stay at Tynecastle in controversial circumstances in 2006 when he invoked a little-known clause in his contract to join Wigan.

Hearts wanted 4.5m from the English club but the Court of Arbitration for Sport eventually ruled that Webster and Wigan were liable for only 150,000. He joined Rangers on loan the following year and then made the move permanent but injuries and the form of other defenders limited his involvement with the Ibrox side to only a handful of matches.

Jefferies revealed his talks with Webster had gone well but admitted: "He's got a lot of options, some decent offers." However, he hopes the player's knowledge of Hearts will persuade him to return, a move sanctioned by club owner Vladimir Romanov.

Jefferies said: "He obviously knows all about the club already so it's about getting an agreement now. We won't put him under any pressure, it's up to him. He'll listen to offers from elsewhere and make his decision. We've done all we can and we will wait and see if his agent and our people can agree a deal."