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Monday, 2nd November 2009 Change Date Latest Issue

Hearts leading chase to sign Austrian ace

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Published Date: 04 July 2009
By BARRY ANDERSON
HEARTS are leading the pursuit of Austrian striker David Witteveen and will beat clubs in Italy, Germany, Holland and Switzerland to the player's signature provided he successfully completes a medical examination.
Witteveen, a former Red Bull salzburg forward, is hopeful of joining Hearts on their six-day tour of Germany next week with initial talks on a possible two-year contract having already taken place.

The 24-year-old fits manager Csaba Laszlo's identikit for a Scottish Premier League striker, being over 6ft 2ins tall with a bustling style and good turn of pace. Sources in Austria, where he spent last season on loan at WAC St Andra, describe him as strong, quick and ideally suited to the stereotypical British game.

Hearts may require to pay a minimal "development" fee to Red Bull to sign Witteveen as he is a product of the club's youth academy. He has worked under established European coaches like Lothar Matthäus, Giovanni Trappatoni and Torsten Fink at the Red Bull Arena but is now seeking to move on having become surplus to the club's requirements. Tynecastle is said to be his first choice destination despite interest from clubs in several of Europe's most respected leagues.

Laszlo was out of the country yesterday and is attempting to negotiate deals for more new players ahead of the German tour, which would follow the recent captures of midfielder Ian Black and Spanish winger Suso. Majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov and director Sergejus Fedotovas were locked in meetings last night and Fedotovas remained coy on their plans when contacted by the Evening News.

He said: "Hearts will sign players. We are negotiating at the moment so I don't want to say anything more. When we have something to announce, we will announce it."

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 July 2009 11:20 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Heart of Midlothian FC
 
1

Away down In Gorgie (2),

04/07/2009 11:36:10
A plethora of lower league players undergoing medicals as we speak in Lithuania.

Hopefully one or more might be half decent.
2

EKhearts,

home 04/07/2009 11:58:16
"A plethora of lower league players undergoing medicals as we speak in Lithuania."

Would expect that kind of comment from the vermin!

Patience is a virtue!
3

The Gorgie Boys Are In Town,

04/07/2009 12:17:52
Hope he can put the ball in the net also but i'm sure he will be able to adapt to Scottish footie if he signs up. Glad Laszlo is getting the players in early and in time for the european campaign, importantly the start of pre season so there can't be any excuses in regards to players catching up with fitness for the rest of the season. Sure the manager knows but we need to sort the defence out aswell but can't wait for kick off seems like ages from the end of last season. Need my footie!!
4

jamboruss,

penicuik 04/07/2009 12:21:28
BELIEVE!

I have faith in Csaba and various reports on this guy are pretty positive.

Mon The HEARTS!
5

The Gorgie Boys Are In Town,

04/07/2009 12:21:45
One thing though if he is formerly of Red Bull i wouldn't have thought any fee would be required, bit of a contadiction
6

Mickey Weir's Perm,

edinburgh 04/07/2009 12:37:59
Actually I was walking through Harrison Park the other day and came across a Hearts season ticket nailed to a tree. I thought, " wow, I'm having that !", because you can never have enough nails can you ?
7

Frontshot,

Edinburgh 04/07/2009 12:40:13
Been watching Mock The Week then Mickey?
8

leucharsjambo,

04/07/2009 12:46:45
Micky that joke was done the other week on you lot do try to keep up thiers a good little hobo
9

The Gorgie Boys Are In Town,

04/07/2009 12:53:36
6 It wasn't even worth repeating very unfunny the first time keep trying though it's what get's you hobbos through the pain.
10

leith keely,

edinburgh 04/07/2009 12:53:49
#6 i heard that crappy joke when i was a little kid, i`m a pensioner now, this guy is a complete guffbag.
11

Taxi for Brellier,

Edinburgh 04/07/2009 12:56:11
The self-proclaimed Big Team aren't leave any tres unturned in their relentless search to find these two World Cup stars....another lower division nobody from a poor league, who has a hhost of clubs allegedly chasing him. What a load of mince.

12

,

04/07/2009 14:33:35
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
13

Heartfelt,

EDINBURGH 04/07/2009 14:53:49
hey Hibbies lets all laugh at Hearts for going after players from European 2nd divisions.

Like Mark de Vries for instance.
14

Arthur Seat,

Basel 04/07/2009 16:06:13
Torsten Fink is not an established European coach. And who, in the name o' the wee men, are WAC St Andra ?? Hope Hertz buy him, he's a big huddie !
15

devries 4,

well well no big signing 04/07/2009 17:01:21
let them mock valois and de vries did ok in a derby game cant remember score also better than buying from a team that were due to be relegated and players who couldnt get a game for them also salzburg are the richest team in austria and have an owner who splashes cash on big money signings hence him being on loan had any hibs fan heard of latapy before he signed or paco luna mattias jack dirk lehmann shelton martis now wba stalwart hope he joins sellik u nvr can tell how players are on the continent im just glad no liths have arrived yet still theres time
16

RolIand,

04/07/2009 17:13:20
deveries 4 - please can you try and use a full stop [two along from the M key] otherwise I just don't even bother reading whatever it is you've written.

If you managed to finish your education I presume you know what a full stop is for and where to use it. Or do you just take one long breath and say all that in a oner?
17

All Laugh Son,

Edinburgh 04/07/2009 17:33:12
#11

No world cup stars but still finished a country mile ahead of our illustrious neighbours.

Keep them coming though.
18

Man with no name,

04/07/2009 17:42:10
It just has to be gorgie for laughs,

all them world class signings.
19

Jambo Dave,

Edinburgh 04/07/2009 18:57:09
Man with no brain/Tell us all about Mallo who your club should be nailing down asap.No they cant sign him because they are not willing to part with any of the 2mil they got for big ears.
You lot should have look at your signing policy before you start having a giggle at a club with a manager who has contacts all over the world.What have you got?A manager who has contacts as far as?? Wait for it,yes Falkirk!!Not only that but the players he has saved from the scrapheap were booted out of there.
You coudnt make it up.
JT for life.Csabas the man,Yogis a bear.
20

Alan gordon with #7,

04/07/2009 19:01:41
#15
Thick yam as usual!
It's not the point of knowing him, it's the level he is at.
I think you will find Latapy was with Benfica.
Slightly different league altogether.
Just like the thick yams for slagiing Hibs off for signing a Falkirk player, when you have signed a relegated teams cast offs.
The yams getting cheap players instead of World cup stars and champion league winners is the right way now, cos paying large wages to win the champs league never really worked did it, or did i miss something. But it was a good laugh watching Vlad pick your champs league winning side, What with your unsustainable debt and your halving of your wage bill, the reality of your delusional fans is about to rear it's ugly head.

21

Taxi for Brellier,

Edinburgh 04/07/2009 19:16:25
"the 2 mill they got for big ears"

better make that £3 million, which is probably double the value of Driver plus the gay dancer and all his ned chums put together.

22

,

04/07/2009 19:19:27
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
23

The Gorgie Boys Are In Town,

04/07/2009 19:27:45
What a surprise the hobbo spaz brigade are out in force, the exception of poster 6 who at least tries to be funny. The rest of these numbskulls are so very predictable. Poster 20 has to be the stupidest tolly if have ever had the missfortune of reading, wot a complete dobber!
24

RolIand,

04/07/2009 19:37:10
£2M for Big Ears, Driver will go for at least double that...
25

Alan gordon with #7,

04/07/2009 20:33:31

"What a surprise the hobbo spaz brigade are out in force"
"Poster 20 has to be the stupidest tolly if have ever had the missfortune of reading"

Err, eh?

Predictable eh, hey ho, we have a thick yam, now that is predictable.
26

samcdonald22,

catterick garrison 04/07/2009 20:48:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFdRCSUQ6HA

lookin good
27

The Gorgie Boys Are In Town,

04/07/2009 21:51:49
26 Cheers for the link sam, does look a good player, a young Ian Dowie look a like, not so good for him. Was looking out for Flogel in his game against Vienna, difficult to spot him though. Natural finisher and very confident in front of goal. Hope he signs for us as the ammo supplied by Driver and Suso will be bread and butter for this boy.
28

Arthur Seat,

Basel 04/07/2009 21:56:31
You can be sure that if David Witteveen was any good Torsten Fink would have taken him to Basel(see below) but delude yourselves dear Jambos and believe what you want.

From September 5, 2006, Torsten Fink began coaching for Red Bull Salzburg's amateur side. After the departure of Lothar Matthäus as the assistant of headcoach Trappatoni, Fink stepped up and became the new assistant. Fink took over as headcoach of FC Ingolstadt 04 on January 4 2007 and was fired on 21 April 2009. On June 9, 2009, he was appointed as manager of FC Basel of the Swiss Super League.
29

The Gorgie Boys Are In Town,

04/07/2009 22:01:57
28 Very odd reasoning why you reckon he can't be any good, still you're probably excited by Creggs signing and even more so another freed player in McBride
30

Arthur Seat,

Basel 04/07/2009 23:05:01
#28 Not odd reasoning at all. Fink has been given a much bigger budget than Csaba Laszlo and he knows Witteveen first hand from his time at Salzburg. If he was any good at all Fink would have brought him to Basel......where he'd earn a lot more than he ever would in the SPL. I doubt if Witteveen would choose to further his career at Hearts if there were serious offers elsewhere.
And by the way, I'm not excited about either Cregg or McBride.
31

Bleeding Heart,

05/07/2009 10:37:55
#28 - So what are you arguing: that Laszlo shouldn't take a chance on Witteveen?

That Laszlo doesn't have the ability to develop the player and get the best from him?

Because if you're NOT contending this, the obvious conclusion is that your comments are motivated purely by the usual Hobo sense of inferiority that inspires malice and a fear that Hearts might achieve something.

I think I know what my money's on...

32

Greignotgreg,

05/07/2009 10:52:36
Just signed a Polish defender as well...

http://www.heartsfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HeartsNewsDetail/0,,10289~1713859,00.html
33

jon doe,

05/07/2009 13:31:34
Hearts are building for Europa Hobs are being decimated.

34

jon doe,

05/07/2009 13:35:13
Provisional Hearts squad for Germany

: Balogh, MacDonald, Kello; J Thomson, C Thomson, Zaliukas, Jonsson, McGowan, Wallace, Goncalves; Kingston, Black, Palazuelos, Mrowiec, Stewart, Obua, Novikovas, Suso; Elliot, Glen, Templeton, Nade.
35

jon doe,

05/07/2009 13:37:48
Dawid Kucharski


Wecome wishing you success as a Jambo.
36

I.J,

The Diggers 05/07/2009 14:18:03
#20 - Latapy at no point in his career played for Benfica. hibs signed him from Boavista.

Who's thick now?
37

jon doe,

05/07/2009 14:53:25
CD Tenerife player "SUSO" has been signed today by Scottish Club Hearts.

Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D.play int the Primera División of the Spanish football league.
38

Greignotgreg,

05/07/2009 14:54:10
20 - 'relegated teams cast offs' - like Michael Owen then?
39

jon doe,

05/07/2009 14:54:31
Just posting above seeing as its lost on many folk here he isnt from a 3rd divison club but was loaned to one last season.
40

jon doe,

05/07/2009 15:04:28
Ian Black was coming to Hearts well before ICT were relegated and new boy Dawid Kucharski from polish top league.I fail to see any so called cast offs etc Hearts are bringing in players age group 23-25 who Csaba believes have the right skills and hunger to succeed.
41

The new waspy,

05/07/2009 16:00:40
#6
That joke was first told in 1902 about the same time as guess what.
Try to be original dear boy.
42

The new waspy,

05/07/2009 16:07:44
#36
#20 is to be ignored as he is the classic hobbit with nothing to say and when he tries to! well we all know what comes out don't we.
43

The Gorgie Boys Are In Town,

05/07/2009 16:22:45
Just read the Dawid Kucharski cv sounds like a good addition. Another 6 foot plus player just won his national cup allied to a strong league placing, and has a very good pedigree, very welcome indeed. Hang on a minute Ancelloti didn't want him he can't really be any good eh!

Isn't it bad when all the national newspapers have this story today, except the hootsman publication, who instead lead with a 'hobbos no getting any big ears loot' story as if we didn't know that already, what a poor excuse for a newspaper this is.
44

Man with no name,

05/07/2009 18:34:46
The Gorgie Boys Are In Hell

One of those days you'll spout something worth reading.
45

jon doe,

05/07/2009 21:10:53
Rod Petrie

Is he inspired by VR this guy is so stingy with his cash,now Yoga is strapped and i think El Stachio is picking the Hobs team.

Whats you`r opinion Man with no name ?
46

forbesy,

Edinburgh 05/07/2009 22:39:15
43

You read his cv your havin a laugh does he run about wi it slapped to the back o his heed.
Nade probably has a cv but surely by now you don't believe everything thats on his.
Or do you !!!!!!!! ooops
47

Bleeding Heart,

05/07/2009 22:52:41
#46 - I'm sure YOU were well impressed by Mixu's CV, "forbesy".

And I'm sure you believed it made him a certainty to bring glory and honours to Easter Road, didn't you?

Hobos like you are well used to wishful thinking...
48

Jack Treehorn,

05/07/2009 23:17:18
#43 Dawid Kucharski will be a good addition.
49

LyonHearts,

le teil 06/07/2009 11:22:11
#34 ...so Driver will go before the season starts then?

MTH
50

Harrypots,

Edin 06/07/2009 12:38:18
#49 - Driver's not in the squad for Germany due to getting an extra 2 weeks off after playing in the u-21 Euro's !
51

forbesy,

Edinburgh 06/07/2009 13:34:00
Bleeding Heart

Didn't acually see Mixu's cv but it didn't take a rocket scientist to work out he was finding it hard to see the job through.
The whole point of the debate is if they are half decent football players in the first place why in gods name would they need a cv.
Did Pele, George Best, or Ronaldo need a cv, did Mckay Rorbertson or Levin need a cv ???, if your are a half decent football player at all then folk will come knockin at your door.
Maybe something similar to Fletcher and Driver ??? I rest my case.
52

LyonHearts,

le teil 06/07/2009 17:52:16
#50 ..it's just that if you look post # 34 by Jon Doe he's left Driver out...some sort of Freudian slip I thought - especially if you look at the Hearts page on the BBC website which indicates interest from Burnley again!

I think he'd be great at a club like Burnley, but he'd maybe be better waiting another year before he goes like Casba said!

MTH
53

Bleeding Heart,

06/07/2009 17:54:43
#51 - "...if they are half decent football players in the first place why in gods name would they need a cv."

I think you've missed the point here.

Everyone has a "cv". In the case of a footballer, it may not be written down (although I gather Michael Owen's agent did a "glossy" version for him) but what's gone before can surely be a reasonable indication of ability and/or potential.

I think all #43 was suggesting is that Kucharski's track-record to date made him look like a reasonable acquisition.

What is it you find to argue about over that?

Unless, of course, your sole motivation is to suggest/hope that Hearts have signed a dud? Surely not, eh?



 

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