Saints are in talks with Hearts in a bid to sign central defender Andy Webster as George Burley confirmed yesterday he has approached his former club about signing the 24-year-old Scottish international.

There is also speculation that Hearts' goalscoring midfielder Rudi Skacel is also on Burley's summer wishlist and the Saints boss said: "We have been speaking to Hearts, which is no secret, and will continue to do so.

"Andy has invoked a FIFA clause where he can leave Hearts but he's talking to a number of other clubs but we'll continue to speak to Hearts and see if we can agree terms with him.

"We are speaking with Hearts about one or two players but we haven't got any agreements so far."

Webster has invoked a FIFA rule which allows players under the age of 28 to hand in their notice when they are three years into a four year deal.

Hearts would only be able to claim around £200,000 compensation for Webster, right, based on his current salary.

Both Webster and Skacel, the Czech Republic international Burley signed at Tynecastle last summer, failed to join their Hearts teammates on a pre-season trip to Austria yesterday.

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