Hearts boss admits interest in signing Hartley but won't pay over the odds

JIM JEFFERIES today spoke for the first time about the prospect of luring Paul Hartley back to Tynecastle, stressing that Hearts will not be held to ransom by Bristol City over the 33-year-old midfielder.

Hartley has 12 months left on his Robins contract but is keen to return north and recently expressed a desire to rejoin Hearts. Jefferies has yet to decide whether to follow up an initial inquiry about the player and said any deal would have to be financially suitable with Bristol City keen to recoup a transfer fee if Hartley leaves.

During his previous four-year spell with Hearts, Hartley distinguished himself as an iconic figure with supporters but Jefferies has advised caution from those keen to see their hero return. "It's not just a case of being interested in somebody, the deal has to be right. There are other things to consider," he explained. "It was reported that Bristol were wanting a fee for him so I've had to check that out. Then we have to sit down and decide if we are interested in going for Paul. We haven't made that decision yet.

"We've had one or two inquiries (for players] elsewhere so sometimes you can't take the next step because you don't know what you've got to play with. Long before Paul came on the scene we made an inquiry about someone else but that doesn't look like it will happen. That helps us regarding what we've got to play with to make Paul Hartley or any other player an offer."

Jefferies has also been credited with an interest in Kilmarnock's Craig Bryson. "We've made inquiries about one or two players. We've been linked with him but I'll keep it to myself who the players are," he continued. "He's been associated with us because I've worked with him in the past. We'll just have to wait and see what comes of it. I'm a long way from doing anything."

Hearts began pre-season training yesterday and Jefferies is confident that the Slovakian goalkeeper Marian Kello will be part of his squad after contract terms were agreed. "The crossing the Ts and dotting the Is is immaterial. Marian is set in his mind that he's a Hearts player now and he's looking forward to next season."

Recent signing Kevin Kyle has undergone a minor operation which may force him to miss the pre-season training camp in Italy next week.

Teenagers Michael Deland and Dylan McGowan are set to agree six-month loans with East Fife and Cowdenbeath respectively.