Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Position: Defender
Nationality: Senegal
Ibrahim Tall Rumours and Transfers
14 08 2007
Hearts winger Mirsad Beslija is on the verge of agreeing a loan deal with Belgian side Sint-Truiden, as stated by his agent, Dejan Veljkovic.
"Mirsad will join for one year and then probably go back to Hearts," Veljkovic informed the Edinburgh Evening News.
"He was not happy at Hearts because he would like to play."
The Bosnian winger arrived from Genk in January 2006, with Hearts paying a club record £850,000, however he has struggled with form and fitness at Tynecastle.
Beslija has made only 13 appearances for Hearts, the last of which came in October 2006.
"In Belgium he has a good reputation, he can play here for a year and then try with Hearts again," added Veljkovic.
Hearts forward Michal Pospisil returns from a trial with NEC Nijmegen however the Dutch club have yet to make an offer for the Czech.
And Ibrahim Tall would also been on his way out at Tynecastle, with Strasbourg keen on taking the defender back to France.
Jean-Luc Herzog, Strasbourg's GM, informed the Edinburgh Evening News, "We have made 3 offers for Ibrahim Tall in the last month and as far as we are concerned they were 3 big efforts to sign the player. He's a very good player and one we admire however he is out of contract in the summer and in 5 months he would talk to anyone and agree to leave Hearts on a pre contract. That puts them in a position. Do they accept a very strong financial offer from us or do they take the risk that they get nothing for him? Our offer is still on the table if Hearts would like to have a rethink over their position."
09 08 2007
Hearts would push their sales to wards the £10 million mark this week after Champions League hopefuls Toulouse entered the race to sign £500,000 rated Ibrahim Tall.
With Craig Gordon sealing a £9 million move to Sunderland and 5 Lithuanian players leaving Tynecastle, ex Sochaux player Tall, who is also a target for Strasbourg and Bordeaux, appears to be the next player to increase Hearts' coffers.
Toulouse, who face Liverpool next Wednesday in a Champions League 3rd qualifying round clash, have spent over £6 million in new summer recruits however have a major defensive crisis following long term injuries to player defenders Dominique Arribage and Daniel Congre.
Neither will be fit to face Liverpool and with inexperienced Swedish defender Jon Jonsson the only back-up, Tall is on their radar.
They have until midnight tonight to beat the Champions League signing deadline and are thought to have already opened negotiations with the Edinburgh side. However, they faces tiff competition from Strasbourg, who had a party of scouts watching Tall during the Edinburgh derby defeat to Hibs and Bordeaux.
Bordeaux moved yesterday to seal the £2.6 million signing of Senegal defender Souleymane Diawara from Charlton however were keeping an eye on countryman Tall's situation.
Tall, who was a target for Celtic before his transfer to the capital 2 years ago, is interested in leaving Hearts as he enters the final year of his contract.
He spent the 1st 7 months of his Hearts career on the sidelines waiting for his chance to break up the central defensive pairing of Steven Pressley and Andy Webster.
But since making the breakthrough he has impressed and it is thought a move back to French football is imminent.
A Hearts spokesperson said, "There was interest from a number of continental clubs however at this stage we do not want to speculate about Ibrahim's future."
02 07 2007
Hearts defender Robbie Neilson admitted that that he is prepared to leave the club if he cannot command a regular starting place next season.
The Scotland right back informed Hearts World, "I still have 2 years left on my contract however if I find I am no longer would like then I must move on. If I am not playing week-in, week out then I'll not be happy. I am desperate to get back into the team as I have not played since January, however it is up to me to stake my claim."
Neilson suffered a knee injury in a Scottish Cup tie at Stranraer and is now eager to play a full part in the Jam Tarts forthcoming SPL campaign.
The 27 year old has completed 10 years of service at Tynecastle however faces competiton for his position with Ibrahim Tall and Hristos Karipidis.
"I feel good and hopefully I can prove myself in the pre season games and force my way back into the team. However, there is a lot of competition with a number of players vying for a place."
Hearts had an indifferent season last time around, and with Aberdeen denying them a Uefa Cup spot, Neilson knows that performances must improve.
"This time we can only concentrate on the league," he added.
"Last season we had several distractions in Europe and it had taken its toll on us, it is disappointing to miss out on European football next season however it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise."
Meanwhile, new Jambo, Michael Stewart, a surprise transfer from Edinburgh rivals Hibs, would like to make up for lost time by showing Hearts supporters what he is capable of after a slack 1st spell at the club.
The former Man Utd midfielder made only 5 league starts during 2004/05.
He said, "Hopefully I can take the challenge on and do better than when I was 1st at the club, due the fact there is not a good number of opportunities. That is something I would like to rectify. The fact I have been able to play week-in, week out definitely helps your confidence," he added after joining up with his new team mates at their training camp in Salzburg.
"Obviously it is 2 years down the line and I am more now more mature and more experienced."
