Wouter Vrancken, the new Hearts manager, has addressed the future of star forward Claudio Braga, stating that the club must be ready to replace him if a suitable offer arrives. Ligue 1 giants Lyon are reportedly eyeing Braga, Scotland's player of the year, as a potential replacement for Brazil superstar Endrick, who has returned to Real Madrid.
Hearts' Valuation and Jamestown Model
Hearts value Braga at between £9 million and £10 million and are under no pressure to sell. However, with Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics overseeing recruitment at Tynecastle, the 'buy-low-and-sell-big' model will be activated if their valuation is met. Braga joined Hearts last summer from Norwegian second-tier side Aalesunds for around £400,000, scoring 17 goals last season.
Vrancken's Comments on Braga
Speaking about the situation, Vrancken said: "For me, it's the same as in Belgium. Clubs stay healthy by developing players and selling them to bigger teams or bigger leagues. I think it's a similar model here. Braga had a very good season last year so of course he's a player you want in your team. But with this model, we also have to be ready. We have to know which players are ready to replace him if he leaves. But at the moment, he's still a Hearts player, so we'll never know."
Braga's Response to Speculation
Braga remains focused on the upcoming Champions League qualifiers, saying: "I have two years left on my contract and I really like where I am. Anything regarding interest is handled by my agents. I stay out of it. I'm about to fulfil one of my biggest dreams. Just knowing it's possible to play in the Champions League is incredible, even if it's only a qualifier."
New Signing Sabri Guendouz
One player Vrancken will definitely work with is forward Sabri Guendouz, who signed this week in an £850,000 deal from Beerschot in Belgium. Guendouz scored three goals and provided seven assists in the Belgian second tier last season. Vrancken said: "Sabri, I know from Beerschot. He was highly rated there in his position. He can play everywhere across the front, so that's also handy. He's probably the player I know the best."
Backroom Staff Additions
Vrancken has brought former Club Brugge midfielder Tim Smolders and Jong Cercle coach Cederique Tulleners to Gorgie as his assistants. Goalkeeper coach Gordon Marshall and set piece specialist Ross Grant are already in position, adding a Scottish element to the backroom staff. Vrancken explained: "We have one really young one (Tulleners) who has a lot of obsession, almost, and ambition for working with players and working on the pitch. Tim is a more experienced one. He has also worked abroad. We played together with the Belgium under-21 national team, so I've known him for a long time."
Coaching Philosophy
Vrancken outlined his coaching approach: "What I always like to do is divide the group of players into two, most of the time offensive players and defensive players, so that we can focus on them. Each assistant gets a focus group where they provide individual feedback and individual exercises. The other assistant works with the other group. I do as well, but a little more in general, picking out what I think is needed. Then we focus on making every individual better, because when we make every individual better, the team will also get better."
He emphasized the importance of a mixed staff: "We still have the (Scottish) mix with the goalkeeper coach, the set-piece coach, the performance staff and the analyst. For me, it always has to be a mix because you have to know and feel the culture of the club, the city and the region all the time. It has to be one team. That's what I'm really open to in the staff. Maybe sometimes I'm too open, but I like proactivity. I like people who take responsibility. When you have responsibility and you know you're responsible for something, I think you're more engaged. You feel more with the team, and the emotions of winning or losing are even bigger than when you're just on the side. So I try to have everybody playing a part in it. I'm also just a small part of the total teamwork."
