[BrianCappellieri]

Southampton consider Hearts No1 Niemi

Southampton boss Gordon Strachan is considering a move for Hearts keeper Antti Niemi...
Tribal Football

[prk166]

Maybe I missed it, but has Strachan ever said that he needs to sign a new keeper this summer? Is the media just picking this one up and running with it for no good reason? Just curious.

[markdickson]

Hearts' Finnish International goalkeeper, Antti Niemi, will sign for Southampton on Tuesday, after the Monday Bank Holiday. The 30-year-old has agreed personal terms with the English Premiership club and was undergoing a medical on Friday. A fee of £2m has been agreed, Hearts having rejected an initial offer of £1.5m.

Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson says he is "very sorry" to see Niemi leave but is "happy" with the deal. it is believed that it involves a sell-on clause should the goalkeeper leave St Mary's. Southampton had hoped that Niemi would make his debut against Liverpool on Saturday.

Antti Niemi last night admitted it would break his heart to leave Tynecastle. Speaking to Neil Cameron of the Dail Record. The Hearts keeper is swithering over a pounds2million move to Southampton after a madcap 48 hours which saw him leav Scotland for international duty in Finland, jump on a plane to England to speak to Saints boss Gordon Strachan, then jet back to Edinburgh to discuss the move with his family...

http://www.finland-football.net/niemi230802.asp

Niemi played 88 games in goal for Hearts since joining from Rangers in 1999 and may or may not play his last game against Dunfermline today.

[prk166]

I wonder how much of this move was influenced by feeling the need to play in a better league to keep the #1 spot for Finland. Eckleman (sp!)'s played well for Villa.

[markdickson]

By all accounts I think Niemi was quite happy to stay at Hearts (he had just signed a new 4-year contract) but probably for his international career & Hearts leaning on him a bit for the £££, he felt he couldn't turn the opportunity down.

He was the best keeper in the SPL and is world class on his day. Will he be #1?