HEARTS new boss Daniel Stendel has offered axed skipper Christophe Berra to St Johnstone as part-exchange in his move for winger Matty Kennedy.

The Tynecastle outfit are vying with Aberdeen for the Perth forward whose contract expires in the summer, as Scotzine reported yesterday.

Thirty-four-year-old club captain Berra was dropped by the German coach last month and told he could leave the Edinburgh side, either on a loan or a permanent deal.

Stendel has identified Kennedy as one of the players he wants in his Jambos rebuild, as reported in the Scottish Sun.

Some reports last night claimed the Perth ace had already agreed a pre-contract with Dons boss Derek McInnes to join the Pittodrie club, but it looks as though he is still undecided about his future.

Speaking previously of his interest in the winger, McInnes said: “I spoke to Tommy Wright and Matty’s agent and I’ve since spoken to Matty himself.

“We’re hopeful we can maybe agree a pre-contract, but that’s really for summer.

“Could it be done this month? We’d need to agree a contract first.

“But that is entirely up to St Johnstone. He’s their player, so right now he is one for the summer.”

Now Hearts are hoping to tempt the McDiarmid Park outfit to allow the in-demand attacker to move to Tynecastle, especially with Scotland international defender Berra being used as a sweetener in the proposed deal.