Fulham manager Chris Coleman has ridiculed Hearts’ valuation of Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, claiming that the Edinburgh club want £10m.
Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas has described a reported £2.5m offer from Fulham as “a very small price”.
But Coleman said: “He’s a good goalkeeper, but apparently the price up there is £10m.
“That would mean he is the most expensive Scottish keeper. He must be made of gold.”
Fulham are currently without first-choice goalkeeper Antti Niemi, a former Hearts player, through injury.
Niemi, who landed awkwardly during the 0-0 draw with Watford on 1 January, is not expected to be sidelined for much longer.
And the English Premiership side have Jan Lavstuska and Tony Warner as back-up.
But they were impressed enough with Gordon to place an offer that was quickly rejected after Fulham goalkeeping coach Dave Beasant watched Hearts lose 2-1 to Celtic on Sunday.
Gordon has attempted to assure Hearts supporters by saying he would not leave unless a much better deal was on offer.
But the 24-year-old club captain, under contract until 2009, has been consistently linked with a possible summer move to Arsenal.
And Ivanauskas was confident that Gordon would still be with the Scottish Premier League club at the close of this month’s transfer window.
“They have interest in Craig, but financial details are not my job,” said Ivanauskas.
“For me, that is a very small price.
“He has a contract with Hearts. He will stay in January.”
Even so, Hearts appear to be preparing for Gordon’s possible departure.
They have signed two Lithuanian goalkeepers this month, Eduardas Kurskis and Arnas Lekevicius, leading to speculation that they may cash in on their most valuable asset.
