HEARTS' current financial problems could see their manager Csaba Laszlo lose out to city rivals Hibernian if he wishes to sign Kilmarnock goalkeeper Alan Combe.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies admitted for the first time yesterday that he could be forced to cash in on Combe in January if the goalkeeper decides to quit the club.
Combe is out of contract in the summer and has so far failed to agree a new
deal with the Rugby Park outfit.
He is free to talk to interested parties next month and reports strongly suggest that capital rivals Hearts and Hibs are both interested in the Edinburgh-born goalkeeper.
And Jefferies concedes Kilmarnock could sell him in the next transfer window rather than risk losing him for nothing. "It's news to me that Hearts and Hibs are interested," he said. "All I know is that the chairman has made Alan an offer and Alan knows it's up to him now. He has done well for us and is maybe waiting to see what's on offer.
"That's the world we live in and I've brought in players when they have been out of contract. If he does make the decision to go at the end of the season, it might be that he has to go quicker because we have to do what's best for Kilmarnock.
"If any club – whether that be Hearts, Hibs or anyone else – makes an offer and it's one that we feel is a good deal then it might be the same as what happened with Colin Nish last year.
"If it's easier to keep him and lose him for nothing at the end of the season, we will make that decision if and when Alan makes the decision to move on."
Kilmarnock are desperate to force their way into the reckoning for a top-six finish this season and Jefferies added: "Of course it would be a blow to lose him. He is our number one goalkeeper and he's done great for us. I might need to bring another keeper to the club to make up for the loss of Alan if he goes."
Jefferies is also working behind the scenes to recruit a striker who could solve his side's goalscoring problems, admitting their 1-0 defeat to Hamilton last week was down to an inability to put the ball in the net.
He said: "We need a bit of experience to come in and we've made moves but there is a long time to go between now and then and anything can happen. It looks like we'll have someone who is proven in the Premier League and we know he's got a goal or two in him."
However, the mystery player will not be Steven Naismith after Jefferies ruled out a return to Rugby Park.
