O'Connor says signing for Hearts is still an option

GARRY O'Connor has confirmed he will be leaving Lokomotiv Moscow and claims five clubs in the Premiership have made enquiries about his services. The former Hibs striker also revealed that if he were to return to Scotland it would have to be to Celtic, Rangers or Hearts.

"I'll be heading back to Scotland at the end of this training camp [in Portugal on 24 January]; I've already agreed this with the club," O'Connor told Russian daily, Sport Express.

"I think Lokomotiv will cope without me. They have signed an excellent forward in Asamoah Gyan, they already have [Dmitry] Sychev and [Draman] Traore. And then there is [Erik] Korchagin who they have brought in to look at. So, I don't think there would be room for me anyway."

O'Connor's agent, Gary Mackay is currently out in Portugal hammering out the details of O'Connor's exit. However, the player says he is confident there will be no shortage of takers for his services. "I don't have all the details," said O'Connor. "All I know is that the possible options include five English Premiership clubs. And it is not out of the question that I will go on loan somewhere for six months with a view to a permanent transfer afterwards."

In a statement that is bound to dismay the Easter Road faithful, the former Hibs forward also hinted that he would be ready to move to Gorgie if the right offer came in. "I won't be going back to Hibernian," he said. "They don't have enough money. If I was going to move back to Scotland, we'd be talking about just three clubs: Celtic, Rangers or Hearts."

O'Connor's manager at Hibs, Tony Mowbray, who is now in charge at West Bromwich Albion, has tried to take the player on loan to the Hawthorns but it emerged yesterday that Mowbray's bid was rejected.

Aleksandr Udaltsov, the Lokomotiv spokesman, said: "Yes, it is true. The manager of West Brom is Garry's former coach and he inquired about him. They wanted to take him on loan for the rest of the season, as they don't currently have enough money to buy him, but we are not interested in a short-term deal."

Mackay hopes to sort out O'Connor's future in the next few days. "I'm flying out to Portugal and hopefully have a chat with the people in charge at the club and then we will have a clearer picture," said the player's agent. "I'm neither optimistic or pessimistic, I'm open minded about the situation. There are a few clubs from down south who have shown an interest. But first I want to clarify Garry's situation then I can clarify the situation for those clubs who are looking at him."

Taken from the Scotsman