Monday, July 6, 2009

Burnley contact Hearts for Driver

By Brian McLauchlin

Hearts winger Andrew Driver
Driver made his debut for England Under-21s this summer

Burnley have opened discussions with Hearts over the possible purchase of 21-year-old winger Andrew Driver.

The clubs began talks over the weekend, with Hearts only willing to sell if they realise the fee of about £4-5m they think the player is worth.

Driver has just returned from the Under-21 European Championships, where he made his debut for England.

And Hearts are looking for a fee comparable to the value placed on his new international team-mates.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle, who was previously in charge of Falkirk and St Johnstone, knows Oldham-born Driver from his time managing in his native Scotland.

And Coyle last week bought Scotland striker Steven Fletcher from Hearts' Edinburgh rivals Hibernian for £3m.

Defenders David Edgar and Tyrone Mears were also recruited from Newcastle and Derby respectably as promoted Burnley prepare for the step up to England's top flight.

I told Andrew he can come back two weeks later than the rest of the players

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo

Hearts will be looking to compare any fee offered for Driver to the £3.5m paid by Wigan to Middlesbrough for Lee Cattermole and the £5m shelled out by Bolton to Birmingham for fellow midfielder Fabrice Muamba last summer.

England Under-21 forward Theo Walcott famously moved from Southampton to Arsenal for an initial £5m rising to £12.5m in 2006.

And Hull have reportedly agreed a £6m fee last month for Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell.

Burnley might prefer to look to the £400,000 paid to Norwich by Peterborough for Joe Lewis in January 2008 and the £600,000 Manchester City agreed with Shrewsbury for Joe Hart in 2006, but they are both goalkeepers.

Driver, who has been linked previously with the Old Firm and several clubs in England, was not among the Hearts party leaving for their pre-season training camp in Germany on Monday.

But that was because he has been given time off after his involvement with England's Under-21 campaign in Germany, making his debut in a 1-1 draw with their hosts in the group stages.

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo told the Scottish Premier League club's website: "I told him he can come back two weeks later than the rest of the players.

"After the training camp in Germany, he will be back training with us.

"He can have a holiday and then join up with the rest of the team after that.

"It was a great tournament for him to play in. It is a special moment in a young player's career, definitely."

Driver, who was an unused substitute as England lost the final 4-0 to Germany, is a product of Hearts' youth system.

Although born in England, his family moved north when he was a child and the Scottish FA remains hopeful of persuading Driver to switch allegiances should new rules be confirmed allowing international eligibility based on schooling.

о 12:13 AM

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