Tall enjoys happy end to long story

PAUL KIDDIE

NEW Hearts signing Ibrahim Tall today insisted there are no hard feelings after clinching his move to Tynecastle at the second attempt.

The 24-year-old international from Senegal has penned a three-year deal with the Jambos to become boss George Burley's ninth signing of the summer.

The Gorgie chief appeared to have cooled on the idea of recruiting the defender some weeks ago after the player returned home to France having failed to impress during a brief training stint in the Capital.

Chief executive Phil Anderton insisted at the time that Burley, pictured, believed he could bring in better value for money as he searched for a new right-back. Strenuous attempts were made but to no avail.

It has now emerged that Tall, a recommendation of major shareholder Vladimir Romanov, only won his move to the SPL from Sochaux after lowering his wage demands. "Ibrahim is an international from Senegal who has played regularly in France," said Burley.

"He can play at right-back or in central defence and is a player we spoke to about five weeks ago but didn't come to a permanent agreement. As with any talks, there has to be agreement by all parties and unfortunately at that stage we didn't agree and that's why the lad went back to France.

"We talked to other players but nothing definite arose but then we had the opportunity with a revised contract which the boy accepted after lessening his demands."

Tall had been linked with a move to Celtic earlier this summer after being put through his paces at the Parkhead club's Bisham Abbey training camp in England.

Nothing materialised on that occasion, however, with money again thought to be at the core of the problem for a player who was available as a free agent having spent four years at Sochaux.

The full-back has drawn a line under the summer of unrest and insisted his focus is now firmly on the challenge of a new career with the SPL pacesetters.

Speaking through an interpreter at Tynecastle, he said: "I never thought the deal was dead, it just took a bit longer to get done. Mr Romanov was present at some of the meetings but I always dealt with the coach. There were certain issues to be resolved the first time and those will remain confidential but there was never any conflict between me and the coach."

Tall will contest the right-back slot with present incumbent Robbie Neilson and he revealed it was Hearts' potential to challenge the Old Firm for the league championship which convinced him this was the right move.

He said: "There was interest from some other clubs. I wanted to be sure Hearts were the right club for me.

"I am committed to them and wanted to join from day one and I think the good start the team has enjoyed this season reflects very positively on the club.

"I think Hearts are going places and I want to be part of it. The biggest attraction for me is that they are capable of challenging for the title and it's my aim to get into the first team as soon as possible to assist them."

Despite now having welcomed a remarkable nine new faces to the club since taking charge, Burley is keen to keep the transfer pot boiling on the re-opening of the next signing window in January.

That could mean more new year summits with Romanov, who rubber-stamped the arrival of Tall and Brazilian midfielder Camazzola after failing to deliver Burley's preferred targets.

"We will see how things go over the next few months and then January will take care of itself," he said.

"Mr Romanov will look at things as well and we'll decide our next plan from January. The window is now closed, we have got our squad which has done very well so far and we'll reassess things in January.

"This will take us through to Christmas. We have made two additions to the squad which was important but we hope to have a bit of luck with injuries and not get too many suspensions."

He added: "We had a number of targets which didn't quite materialise. It's no secret we spoke to a number of other players but we have still signed a full international who has played in the French league and he has come with good reports from his former manager.

"With any player who comes here, whether he was a target of mine or not, it's up to him to prove himself. It's my job as a manager to work with them and get the best out of them and that's what I enjoy. It's a challenge for me and a challenge for them."

Taken from the Scotsman