Friday 3 September 2021 23:12, UK
HEARTS are ready to spend up to £4 million in a bid to challenge the Glasgow duopoly north of the border with Fitzroy Simpson and Spencer Prior set to head north from England to link up with the Edinburgh-based side.
A move to the Scottish capital appeals to Portsmouth`s Simpson, who rejected a move to Wolves last week and can number Swindon and Manchester City amongst his former clubs.
"I`m over the moon about this move," enthused the midfield terrier. "I`ve just got to agree personal terms but hopefully that will be sorted out. Hearts are the third biggest club in Scotland."
With money to spend after a cash injectection from the Scottish Media Group in September, Jim Jefferies is not content with the £100,000 signing of Simpson as he also plans to land Derby defender Prior, Milan misfit Joachim Fernandez and former Rangers stopper Gordan Petric.
Currently with AEK Athens, Petric also had a spell in England with Crystal Palace and might be tempted by the prospect of a return to Britain. The classy Serbian would only cost around £200,000 and he could line up alongside Prior in a new-look central defensive partnership for The Jambos.
And the spending might not stop there. Motherwell marksman Lee McCulloch, also a target for clubs south of the border, and Dunfermline striker Andy Smith have also been targeted by Hearts in recent weeks. David Lee, the former Chelsea sweeper, is also on trial at Tynecastle.
