ANTTI Niemi, the Hearts goalkeeper, made it clear last night that he would find it difficult to turn down a move to English Premiership side, Charlton Athletic.
Although he has two years left on his Tynecastle contract, the Finnish internationalist said that he would be keen to try his luck with the London club, where he had spent two months on loan during his time at Rangers.
Although no official approach has come from Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager, Hearts officials were suggesting last night that they expected a bid to come in sooner rather than later.
Even Niemi and Craig Levein, the Hearts coach, indicated they expected Curbishley to try and entice the Finn, who was yesterday awarded the Bank of Scotland Player of the Month Award for April, to the English Premiership.
Any approach would put Hearts in a predicament, as the selling on of players to balance the books - it reached its height under Jim Jefferies - has been reduced, they would still find it difficult to turn down around a multi-million pound bid for the keeper, with #2.5m already been suggested as the opening offer.
Yesterday, Levein played a straight bat surrounding a move for his goalkeeper and made it clear that Niemi would only leave Tynecastle ''for an exceptional amount of money''.
''We can't stop other managers looking at him and I can understand why they do,'' said Levein, who described Niemi as the best keeper he had ever worked with.
''Week in and week out, Antti is consistent and has the experience of playing for his country nearly 50 times under his belt, and that is what managers are looking for.
''In saying that, nobody has phoned me making an offer, but every football team is the same in that every player is for sale and it all depends on how much people offer for him. Certainly, if Antti Niemi was to leave this football club, it would only be for an exceptional amount of money.''
His comments suggest that a big-money bid may be too strong to resist, although Levein did say there was no compulsion on Hearts to sell the player as he was still under contract for another two years.
He said club officials had learned lessons from earlier situations surrounding players like Paul Ritchie, who they lost for the nominal fee of #50,000 to Bolton Wanderers near the end of his contract after turning down an #800,000 bid from Rangers earlier that same season.
Despite that, Hearts' financial position is gradually improving from year to year and the club cut its pre-tax loss from #1.44m to just #95,000, largely thanks to the #1.7m sale of Gary Naysmith to Everton last October.
Although things are improving off the field, Levein said his remit to cut the wage bill and reduce the size of his squad still had to be adhered to, which suggests he may countenance a big money bid for his goalkeeper.
Niemi admitted that to be linked with a club like Charlton, who it has been suggested may offer Greig Shields, the former Dunfermline defender, in part exchange for him, was flattering.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been suggested as another interested party, but it seems an approach from Charlton is the only one which could lure Niemi away if a fee between both clubs can be agreed.
''If an English Premier League club comes in for me I would be lying to say I wouldn't be flattered and interested,'' said the Hearts goalkeeper, who cost the Tynecastle club #400,000 from Rangers, two years ago. In saying that, I would be interested, just as 99% of the players in the SPL would be as well, but it is too early to speculate.''
Niemi said he had enjoyed his loan period at Charlton, where he played a few reserve games after he fell out of the picture at Rangers, although he did feel it would be difficult to leave Hearts.
''We are doing well and I feel a big part of the team and get great support, which is something money can't buy,'' he said. ''I have spoken to Craig Levein on the matter and he has told me there could be an interest.''
Interestingly, Niemi faces his old team, Rangers, at Tynecastle on Saturday and club officials were remaining tight-lipped on suggestions that the Ibrox club may have included a sell-on clause in the goalkeeper's contract when they sold him to Hearts, which would mean they would benefit if he signed for Charlton.
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