Burnley in the Driver’s seat for Hearts winger (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley in the Driver’s seat for Hearts winger

9:20am Monday 6th July 2009

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BURNLEY may face competition from FC Twente for Andrew Driver’s signature.

The Clarets were said to be closing in on the Hearts winger, who manager Owen Coyle first tried to bring to Turf Moor last summer.

But the Dutch club, managed by former England boss Steven McClaren, are understood to have also enquired about the 21-year-old, who has just returned from the UEFA Under 21 Championship in Sweden.

The Oldham-born youngster made his debut for England U21s in their 1-1 draw with Germany en route to the two teams meeting again in the final, when he was an unused substitute.

Driver has been given permission to sit out Hearts’ pre-season trip to Germany following his international exploits and have a two-week break before returning to duty. But it is possible his future may now lie away from Tynecastle, despite ending speculation linking him with a move 12 months ago by signing a new five-year contract.

Coyle has continued to monitor the 21-year-old, and renewed his interesting in the pacy wide man after winning promotion to the Premier League.

FC Twente, who were runners up in Eredivisie, have also come into the frame after Championship side Coventry City had a written offer rejected in the January transfer window.

Sky Blues manager Chris Coleman remains an interested party, but after the value Hearts placed on Driver shot up from around £2million to over £4m following his international call-up Coleman insisted he wouldn’t pay over the odds.

"I went up (to Scotland) to watch him last season and he is a good talent but, again, everyone has got a price and we are not going to pay inflated prices,” said the Coventry boss.

“I don’t want to go down that route, but it is no secret that we like him and that hasn’t changed.

"It might happen in the next month, I don’t know, but he is a player we admire.”

Burnley offered around £750,000, plus add-ons, for Driver last summer, while Hearts were in-between managers.

After smashing the club transfer record in signing Steven Fletcher for £3m from Hibernian, Coyle said he would not rule out spending more again. But it is unlikely they would go beyond £2.5m for Driver.

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