Romanov's shock bid for Liverpool's £5m Mo

VLADIMIR ROMANOV has turned his attention to a triumvirate of Liverpool's fringe players after being rebuffed in an ambitious request about £5.6 million midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

The Hearts owner is keen to develop a link with Anfield after striking up a relationship with chief executive Rick Parry during Liverpool's Champions League defeat of Romanov's other club, FBK Kaunas, last summer.

The Evening News can reveal that Romanov's inquiry about the availability of Sissoko was instantly rejected and he has since focused his efforts on Anfield squad players Neil Mellor, Anthony Le Tallec and Djimi Traore.

Mellor and Le Tallec would cost Hearts around 2.5m in total if they agreed to the move. Traore is unlikely to leave Anfield.

Sissoko was a 5.6m signing from Valencia last summer and has played 25 times for the Reds this season. A source close to Liverpool said today: "Romanov asked about Sissoko but the inquiry wasn't taken any further as he is very important to the team and cost a lot of money."

Hearts also have a deal in place to bring Liverpool youngsters Darren Potter and Francis Smith to Tynecastle, however that agreement is presently surrounded in some confusion.

A source close to the deal said: "Liverpool think it's all agreed but they are still waiting for Hearts to come and tie up the loose ends. Liverpool thought that on January 1 it would all go through but as yet they haven't heard from them on the Potter deal.

"As far as Liverpool are concerned there is a deal in place and Potter and Smith want to go, but for some reason nothing seems to have happened."

Hearts have also been linked recently with a move for Dundee United's Mark Wilson.

As Paul Hartley's off-the ball clash with Celtic's Ross Wallace is referred to the SFA's disciplinary review panel, Hearts have taken Australian international midfielder Joel Griffiths, whose contract with Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax expires in the summer, on trial.

"Joel is a player who can play on the right of midfield, through the middle or up front so he is a very versatile player," said Hearts' youth academy director John Murray. "He was recommended to us by an agent and he has a decent pedigree so we have invited him over for a week's trial."

Griffiths marked his only international appearance to date with a goal as Australia thrashed Jamaica 5-0 in a friendly at Fulham's Craven Cottage last October.