According to the SUNDAY POST, the Scottish side Hearts are considering a ?2.75-million move for Ghana World Cup star Derek Boateng.

The Edinburgh club, set to announce plans for major new investment in players this week, had scouts over watching the AIK Solna midfielder in action against both the Czechs and the United States.Impressed by what they saw, they will now study his performance against Brazil on Tuesday before recommending to Vladimir Romanov and new boss-in-waiting Alexei Mikhailitchenko whether to meet the Swedish club?s valuation of the player.

Boateng boasts an impressive pedigree, having been African Young Footballer of the Year in 2001 and man-of-the-match for his former club Panathinaikos in a Champions League tie against Manchester United while a teenager.

Desperate Now 23-years-old, he remains desperate to follow his friend Michael Essien to the UK, having missed out on the chance to go to the Premiership with Middlesbrough in 2002 because of work-permit restrictions.

?For all Ghanaians, the dream is go to Britain and play and Derek is no different,? said Boateng?s agent Patrick Mork.

?Steve McLaren wanted him for Middlesbrough because he thought he had been a sensation in the game against Manchester United and all the terms were agreed.

?Unfortunately, the move did not come off, and Derek had to go through a dark period in his career before coming back to be the best player in Swedish football last season.

?At the moment, he still has 18 months of his current deal remaining, but we have talks scheduled with Solna for after the World Cup.

?AIK are well aware of interest from quite a few other clubs in the player and they wanted to see how events went in Germany and whether there would be firm bids lodged.

Challenge ?Of course, Ghana are doing very well and Derek is impressing so there is the possibility for some movement.

?He is a top quality player, someone I believe, is capable of doing very well in domestic football as well as in European competition.?

It is the upcoming Champions League challenge that has Hearts determined to spend big money.

Drawn against the winners of the tie between Belarussians Shakhtyor Soligorsk and Bosnian side Siroki Brijeg, the Tennent?s Scottish Cup winners believe they must strengthen if they are to reach the lucrative group stage.

Romanov?s critics will point out the bulk of the ?800,000 fee for Bosnian internationalist Mirsad Beslija has still to be paid, with Genk threatening legal action.

With the club aware of Romanov?s readiness to significantly increase his investment, the matter is not being seen as one of any great concern by club officials.