Hearts in search for another Hartley

The majority shareholder and manager Jim Jefferies are attempting to recruit midfielders and strikers this summer and Romanov, a long-term admirer of Hartley's ability, is keen to sign someone with the Scot's tenacity.

Romanov declared that Hartley's talent was "wasted" when he moved to Celtic.

"It is so hard to find the right players that sometimes the search may go on all life long. In midfield we need a player as good as Hartley," said the Russian. "Playing for Hearts he set a high standard and our task now is not to fall below his level.

"When I came to Scotland there was no demand for him. But in my first year when I assembled a real team it suddenly turned out Hartley was needed – in the national squad as well as Celtic. They failed to make proper use of his unique features and his talent was wasted."

The new midfielder would replace the departed Michael Stewart and Larry Kingston. "If we do not have such a midfielder no forwards are going to be of real help," said Romanov.