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HEARTS are ready to splash out almost £400,000 on Croat superkid Niko Datkovic.

Record Sport understands the Tynecastle outfit have issued a serious statement of intent for their return to the Premiership by tabling a big money bid to Rijeka for the Under-21 international centre-back.

Datkovic, who has been capped at all youth levels for his country, has been identified by the Gorgie management team of Craig Levein and Robbie Neilson as a potential star of the future.

With skipper Danny Wilson leaving on a free contract the defender is viewed as the ideal replacement for the departing captain.

Serie A giants Juventus along with clubs in the Premier League and a top Bundesliga outfit have looked at Datkovic who has spent a chunk of this term on loan at the Italian second tier side Spezia.

But Hearts believe they can offer the stopper the platform to develop on to bigger things.

Rijeka accept one of their prized assets will be leaving and are likely to demand a hefty sell-on clause in any proposed deal.

It’s understood Neilson has been to Italy to watch the 22-year-old and that the Croatians are currently assessing the offer.

In what are trying financial times for the Scottish game Hearts’ outlay would lay down a massive marker regarding their ambitions as they prepare to return to the top flight after storming to the Championship title this term.

Tynecastle owner Ann Budge is willing to back Levein and Neilson with funds for the Tynecastle club’s Premiership return.

And Datkovic’s capture, if Hearts can pull it off, would represent a massive coup.

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