Hibs Slap £5m Tag On Fletcher

Mar 16 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

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HIBS have told Real Madrid they'll need to cough up £5million to land star striker Steven Fletcher.

MailSport understands the Spanish giants made official contact with the Easter Road club last week and asked for their valuation of the Scotland Under-21 hitman.

Madrid's director of youth football Miguel Angel Portugal was told by Hibees chief Rod Petrie they want s5m.

But the La Liga giants would prefer to pay around s3.8m up front with potential add-ons depending on his progress at the Bernabeu and in the Scottish national side.

Real argue the final fee could surpass the s5m Hibs are looking for.

Chief scout Julen Lopetegui sent another spy to watch Fletcher yesterday with the hitman again finding the net in Hibs' 2-0win over Kilmarnock.

But Angel Portugal, who is in charge of recruiting young talent for the Spanish champions, must wait for the financial go-ahead from sporting director Predrag Mijatovic before making his move.

As MailSport exclusively revealed last month Fletch has impressed Madrid since he first caught their eye at the European Under-19 Championships in 2006.

The 20-year-old is aware of their interest and keen to discuss a move if both clubs can agree the fee.

He has been told by Madrid not to speak about the potential transfer in the media until the Spaniards make a concrete bid.

Fletcher recently signed a new five-year deal at Easter Road and is set to be named in George Burley's first Scotland squad this week for the friendly against Croatia a week on Wednesday.

There is also interest in the striker from Dynamo Kiev and Lokomotiv Moscow but it's unlikely he would welcome a move to Eastern Europe.

Newcastle are keeping tabs on Fletcher too and St James' Park chief scout Jeff Vettere filed favourable reports on the frontman while he worked at Real Madrid last year.