Goncalves to leave Hearts

The Portuguese defender becomes a free agent in June and confirmed today that he intends heading for pastures new after four years at Tynecastle. Clubs in England are monitoring the situation and the player is aware the Hearts hierarchy could opt to sell him during January's transfer window if a suitable offer is received.

However, he stressed his desire to see out the season in Edinburgh before embarking on a new chapter of his career.

Goncalves, now 24, cost Vladimir Romanov 700,000 to lure from the Swiss club FC Thun in January 2006.

He initially joined FBK Kaunas of Lithuania, a club financed by Romanov's Ukio Bankas Investment Group, before being loaned to Hearts. He signed a permanent contract at Tynecastle the following year.

He spent last season on loan at Germany's FC Nuremberg and has performed consistently since returning to Hearts in July, but his present contract, worth over 10,000 a week, is unlikely to be renewed.

"In January I will have been here four years," Goncalves told the Evening News. "I've had a great time here and I've learned from a lot of different experiences.

"I hope that, at the end of the season, I will go with my head held high. I hope people will remember me for all the positive stuff I did for the club.

"If I get the chance to go to another team in another country I will be happy. I hope the people here will understand my reasons for going. I've had four great years at Hearts and now I think it's the time to go to get new motivation.

"Four years is a long time at any football club. They have given me everything here and I learned a lot of good stuff.

"I can only be happy at the way the club have treated me, the way the players have treated me and the way the fans have treated me. It's only been positive stuff. I will always remember Hearts."

Goncalves said he has no plans to hold contract talks with prospective new employers even though he is legally entitled to do so come January. "At the moment I'm not thinking about talking to any team," he said.

"You never know what happens during the winter but I would like to stay through the winter. It depends what the club is thinking. We will have to sit down but I want to stay."