Nuremberg set to take Goncalves on loan

HEARTS star Jose Goncalves may have played his last game for the club, with German side Nuremberg in talks to take the defender on loan next season with a view to a permanent move.

Goncalves played 29 games for the Jambos last season and was the subject of a failed 1.3 million offer from Celta Vigo last August, with Hearts placing a 2m valuation on the player's head. With fellow left-back Lee Wallace coming through the ranks and Goncalves understood to be keen on a move away from Tynecastle, Hearts are ready to move the player on now rather than waiting for his value to diminish with his contract set to expire in two years' time.

Nuremberg were relegated from Bundesliga 1 last season and head coach Thomas von Heesen is facing a massive rebuilding job as he bids to take them back into the top flight at the first time of asking.

Star players Jan Koller, Angelos Charisteas and Ivan Saenko are among those looking to quit the Frankenstadion and the club's sport director, Martin Bader, is currently in talks with Hearts and Goncalves over the move as they seek a player to operate at left-back or left centre-back.

When contacted by the Evening News, Martin Haltermann, a spokesperson for Nuremberg, said: "We don't comment on speculation regarding transfers and have nothing to say on Jose Goncalves of Hearts."

However, a source close to Nuremberg said: "The club like Goncalves. The deal isn't finalised yet but they are hopeful within the next few days it will be."

Meanwhile, Artmedia Bratislava have admitted they have no idea where head coach Vladimir Weiss' future lies next term.

The Slovakian had claimed he would reveal at the start of this week whether he would be on his way to Hearts but has yet to make any announcement on his future.

The Evening News revealed earlier this week that Weiss had failed to get the assurances he wanted from Hearts that he would have full control of team selection and transfer matters. And he's now set to talk to the Slovakian FA on Monday with current boss Jan Kocian on his way out.

Artmedia spokesperson Charlie Singhosser said: "Vladimir Weiss will speak with the Federation on Monday and then there will be a decision." The club's general manager Petr Kaspar said: "Everyone who knows football accepts Weiss is the best of all Slovakian coaches for the position of national coach.

"However, it still isn't decided where Weiss will work next year. Our season starts soon so we'd like to know his position as soon as possible, maybe by the start of next week.

"We would like to know if we have to look for a new coach.

"The decision on any new job, whether it be in Slovakia or abroad, rests only in the hands of Vladimir Weiss. No one from Artmedia Bratislava will answer these questions."