Hearts ready to risk losing Lee Wallace for free next year

Hearts are still hopeful of negotiating a new contract with Wallace, whom they consider to be worth 3 million, but manager Jim Jefferies hinted yesterday that the player would welcome a move to the English Premier League.

But, although Jefferies believes he now has a ready-made replacement at left-back in the shape of Danny Grainger, a summer signing from St Johnstone, he would prefer to retain Wallace's services even if it means him moving on under freedom of contract in 12 months' time.

"Unless a club makes a ridiculous offer for Lee," said Jefferies, "then it's better to keep him as he is worth more to us even in the short time he would be here. If the offer for him is low, then it's not worth taking because he is worth more to us playing here.

"Lee has already stated he is very ambitious and opportunities to play in the English Premier League don't come around too often for players in Scotland. So we have got that to consider.

"It's a balancing act for Hearts. If the club need the money, and all clubs do, then if the offer is something they can't turn down it is better to get a decent fee than nothing at all at the end of his contract.

"Lee is a great asset, the problem is that he's in the last year of his contract. It's the same for any player in the last year of his contract, it's suddenly a bit more difficult.

"If you can get him on a longer term contract then his price would go up, it's as simple as that. The club will obviously try to extend Lee's contract if they can. But, if he is ambitious and wants to move on, it will be up to Lee if an offer comes in which tempts the club.

"Since all the speculation about him started, Lee has had a great attitude. I've seen players affected by it and they're at your door every day wondering what's happening, but not Lee. He's come in and trained hard every day.

"He's been at this club long enough and if he does move on he would like the club to get decent money. That's the way the game is now and you just have to accept it. That's one of the reasons I brought in Danny Grainger and in pre-season he's done extremely well. So if Lee goes, we're covered, but at the same time we'd like to keep him."

Jefferies is hopeful the future of another of his key players, Czech midfielder Rudi Skacel, will be clarified imminently. The 31-year-old, who made a successful return to the club last season, is out of contract at the end of this month and has yet to agree a new deal.

"Rudi is back training with us, although not quite 100 per cent yet," said Jefferies. "He has got some sort of contract talks going on with the club and I think they will all be resolved, hopefully on Friday or certainly over the weekend."

Jefferies will utilise his squad over two final pre-season fixtures, away to Livingston tomorrow and then at home to Belgian club Royal Antwerp on Sunday in a fixture marking the 125th anniversary of Hearts' Tynecastle Stadium.

Long-term absentees Kevin Kyle and Andrew Driver remain on the injured list as they recover from their respective hip and hernia problems but Jefferies was able to report encouraging news on both players.

"Kevin is well ahead of schedule," said Jefferies. "I didn't expect to get him back in 2011, but he is making great progress and is maybe only three or four weeks away from coming back now which will be a major boost for us.

"Andrew was back training with us for the first time today and, while he could still be a couple of weeks away, that could change if he continues to make progress. He would be like another new signing for us."

Jefferies is satisfied with the size and strength of his playing staff ahead of the new campaign, which will come into even sharper focus today when Hearts learn their possible Europa League third qualifying round opponents as the draw takes place in Nyon.

"We have options and cover in a lot of areas," he said, "and with the first European tie just around the corner, that's what we will need if we want to have a good run in the tournament."