Hearts weigh up second bid for Souttar

HEARTS are weighing up whether to make an improved bid for Dundee United youngster John Souttar after having an offer in the region of £100,000 rejected by the Tannadice club.

Souttar is out of contract this summer but Hearts, who are pushing for a Europa League place, are keen to snap up the versatile 19-year-old before the January transfer window closes.

The Scotland Under-21 cap, who can play in either defence or midfield, turned down a £600,000 switch to Sunderland in 2013 and has recently been linked with a move to Celtic.

The offer of fresh terms at United was taken off the table last summer and despite manager Mixu Paatelainen admitting he was hopeful of the player signing a new contract, it is understood that resigning talks have not yet progressed.

Sources close to Souttar y e s t er day dismissed rumours of interest from Paul Lambert’s Blackburn Rovers and have indicated that the player would be open to a switch to Robbie Neilson’s side.

Meanwhile, Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson has backed Dario Zanatta to get over his a g on i s i ng Hamilton miss when the Tynecastle outfit go to Inverness on Saturday.

The Canadian was guilty of squandering a match-winning chance in the weekend’s goal-less draw at New Douglas Park when his header came back off the bar.

But Neilson has been been impressed with the attacking midfielder’s all-round contribution and reckons the 18-year-old, who joined in the summer from Vancouver Whitecaps, will become a genuine goal threat.

Neilson said: “I think he gives us a bit of physicality. He’s got good athleticism up and down the park and he’ll run in behind.”