JAMBOS IN FRESH BID FOR KID STAR

HEARTS last night made a fresh move to try to beat Celtic in the race for Romanian wonderkid Dumitru Copil.

The Hoops believed they had won the race for the 16-year-old midfielder, tagged the new Georghe Hagi, when Vladimir Romanov refused to sanction a deal earlier this year.

But now the Jambos owner has made an improved offer to his club, Gloria Arad, and a better salary package after pleas from youth academy director John Murray.

And they believe Copil will arrive in Edinburgh on January 6 and put pen to paper on a four or five-year contract.

Former Aberdeen defender John Inglis, now an agent working on the deal, says Hearts are favourites for his signature. He said: "Dumitru has been quoted as saying he is all but certain to go to Celtic but I believe this was before Hearts showed interest again.

"The boy was at Hearts first but Mr Romanov did not want to follow through on the club's interest even though everyone, including John Murray, liked the player.

"Celtic then opened talks with the club but Hearts have done a U-turn and have now more or less come to an agreement with Gloria Arad on a fee.

"We were at Hearts last week to discuss personal terms with a view to Dumitru joining in January, although that's not to say Celtic will not return to the race.

"Understandably, Hearts are a bit miffed at reports he is signing for Celtic."

The fee for Copil, reported in the Romanian media, is £250,000 but it's understood to be well wide of the mark and Hearts have struck a deal for a little more than a third of that sum.

A Celtic insider insisted they still expect Copil to join them next month and that nothing has changed.

Copil, a left-side midfielder, was first spotted aged just eight playing in an encampment near the Hungarian border. His parents are set to move to Scotland to help their son acclimatise.

Taken from the Daily Record