FOTOMONTAGE: Rennen um Bayers Topstar offen. Drei Top Clubs buhlen offenbar um Florian WIRTZ. Im Rennen sind Bayern Muenchen, Manchester City und nun auch noch der FC Liverpool. ARCHIVFOTOFlorian WIRTZ LEV Gestik, *** PHOTO montage Race for Bayers top star open Three top clubs are apparently courting Florian WIRTZ Bayern Munich, Manchester City and now Liverpool FC are in the running Imago Images
Claudio Braga appears increasingly likely to leave Hearts this summer after Ipswich Town entered the race for the Scottish Premiership Player of the Year.
The Premier League side have joined French club Lyon and Turkish outfit Trabzonspor in pursuing the Portuguese playmaker ahead of a potential big-money move.
Portuguese outlet Record reports that Braga “is increasingly close to leaving” Edinburgh, raising serious doubts over his future at Tynecastle.
Jamestown Analytics has valued the 26-year-old at between £8million and £10million, and Hearts will only consider selling at that price.
Braga was the standout performer for the Jambos last season, drawing widespread attention from clubs across Europe’s top leagues and competitions.
Earlier this summer, the player insisted he remains focused on fulfilling his “dream” of playing in the Champions League with Hearts, noting he still has two years left on his contract.
However, that commitment now appears under serious strain, with a deal potentially being struck in the near future according to the Portuguese report.
Hearts are set to face Sturm Graz in the second round of European qualifying later this month, a campaign Braga may not be part of if a transfer is concluded quickly.
New Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has openly acknowledged the club must prepare for life without their prized asset, accepting the reality of the Jamestown transfer model.
Vrancken admitted last month: “For me, it’s the same as in Belgium. Clubs stay healthy by developing players and selling them to bigger teams or bigger leagues.”
He added: “I think it’s a similar model here. Braga had a very good season last year so of course he’s a player you want in your team.”
The manager was candid about the uncertainty surrounding Braga’s future, saying: “But with this model, we also have to be ready. We have to know which players are ready to replace him if he leaves. But at the moment, he’s still a Hearts player, so we’ll never know.”
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