Driver has been in excellent form for Hearts this season

Coventry City are poised to make a £2m bid for Hearts winger Andrew Driver.

Chris Coleman's Sky Blues, who finished a disappointing 17th in the English Championship, will have the 21-year-old watched in Thursday's Edinburgh derby.

Coventry had a £1m offer for Driver, born in Oldham but brought up in Edinburgh, rejected in January.

Championship outfit Burnley also had two bids rejected by Hearts last summer for a player who has gone on to be one of the club's best players this season.

Driver signed a five-year extension to his Hearts contract in 2006 and Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo is hopeful of extending the Tynecastle stay of two players whose deals end in the summer.

Laszlo expects right-back Robbie Neilson to sign a new contract and remains hopeful of extending midfielder Bruno Aguiar's stay at Tynecastle.

The manager has targeted a central defender, right-sided midfielder and a striker as his summer signing priorities.

For Hibs, it's only the prestige that is at stake as their chance of qualifying for Europe is not so big Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo

"At the moment, Robbie will be staying," said Laszlo. "And, if we can keep Bruno, we don't need anyone in central midfield."

Hearts have already allowed Lithuanian wingers Saulius Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis to leave Tynecastle, while centre-half Christos Karipidis has signed a pre-contract agreement with Omonia Nicosia.

Neilson hopes to open contract talks next week, but there is speculation that Aguiar could leave at the end the season.

And Laszlo says that victory over Hibernian on Thursday will take him a step closer to signing higher-profile players for next season.

Hearts are six points ahead of Aberdeen in their attempt to win one of the two Europa League qualification spots.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to this story

"It is always a question of money and qualifying for Europe would be good for the fans and the club," said Laszlo.

Laszlo is hopeful that the incentive of Europe will give Hearts the edge against their Edinburgh rivals, who are 10 points adrift of fourth spot.

"We have the prestige and Europa League," he said. "For Hibs, it's only the prestige that is at stake as their chance of qualifying is not so big."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version