Heart of Midlothian is without doubt, the most bonkers club in Europe at the minute. With the insane ramblings of chairman Vladimir Romanov (click here and here for examples), they’ve managed to retain the mental one, and lose one of their best players, club captain Stephen Pressley.
So just how good is Pressley? Is he worth a punt from a Premiership manager? Well, the most interest is coming from Scotland and The Championship. Southampton gaffer, and former Hearts boss, George Burley has added his name to the list of those interested in Pressley.
Pressley, now 33 (or should that say an experienced defender?), is wanted by a clutch of clubs following his very public departure from Tynecastle. Burley told BBC Sport: "I’m aware of Steven Pressley’s situation and I’m monitoring it. But I would have to wait and see if we could do anything in the January transfer window."
Despite leaving Hearts at the weekend, Pressley isn’t eligible to sign
for another club until the January transfer window.
Pressley’s last game for Hearts was in November in the goalless draw at Inverness
Caledonian Thistle.
The Scotland international joined Hearts in 1998 but recently fell out
of favour after voicing concern about the way the club was being run by
mentalist majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.
Rangers are believed to head the queue for the services of Pressley,
who has been capped 27 times by Scotland and began his career at Ibrox.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has also expressed interest and has not ruled out an approach, while
Dundee United, Dunfermline, Leeds and Cardiff have also been linked
with the centre-half.
In the Premiership, promoted sides Sheffield United, Reading and Watford are among the clubs
said to be keen, but it looks as if Pressley would be interested in joining up with
his former boss at Hearts.
Burley has a record of attracting players who previously played under
him (not in that way you mucky sods) and it seems that Pressley could want out of Scotland to avoid a reminder of his time in Edinburgh. Can’t really blame him can you? As an outside bet, it would be worth sticking a couple of quid on his appearance in a Bolton Wanderers shirt. [Mof Gimmers]