Hearts player heading for Tynecastle exit addressed as Derek McInnes names talent he was 'desperate' to keep
The midfielder is heading for an exit at Hearts with Manchester City the destination.
Derek McInnes has provided his stance on Hearts youngster Keir McMeekin’s upcoming move to Premier League giants Manchester City.
The teenage midfielder has turned heads amid his development in the Tynecastle academy and has trained with boss McInnes’ first team squad. He played his part at Hampden on Tuesday night as the club won its first Youth Cup since 2000 with a thumping 4-0 win over Queen’s Park. A pro contract was offered to McMeekin in hopes of him staying at Hearts but Manchester City and the Jambos have agreed a transfer deal worth up to £2m.
He will move south at the end of the season with Hearts due training compensation under FIFA rules amid their potentially-rewarding deal with City. £400k will be the upfront fee while various incremental payments over the coming years depend on his progress, possibly reaching £2m if the talent makes a certain number of first-team appearances in Manchester. McInnes had him around Sunday’s squad that defeated Hibs 2-1 in the Edinburgh derby and admits he was keen to keep McMeekin involved in maroon.
Hearts on Keir McMeekin to Manchester City
The Tynecastle gaffer said on BBC Scotland ahead of the Youth Cup triumph: "Well, young Keir McMeekin at the weekend was in the squad for the game against Hibs and he was almost on the bench. We're obviously losing him to Manchester City in the summer, Not surprised they want to sign him, but I was desperate to keep him at the club.
"We're always fighting, sometimes a losing battle. Sometimes it can be quite disheartening to the academy when you've got good young ones who get taken away from you, but there's enough of the lads here that we feel that most of them have trained with the first team on a regular basis. So it's good to see the first-team players coming along to support them, and hopefully they can get their hands on a trophy."
McInnes meanwhile revealed words of encouragement from legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson prior to the huge win at Easter Road. It’s moved Hearts three clear in first place in the Premiership, with four games to go, ahead of hosting third-placed Rangers on Monday.
What did Sir Alex Ferguson say about Edinburgh derby?
He added: "Not so much advice, it's a conversation. I actually spoke to him on the way through to Edinburgh on Sunday for the derby, but it wasn't really advice. All he said was 'You better not lose today', which I kind of knew anyway.
"I think you just lean on your staff. We've got good staff at the club and my real close support staff with Paul and Alan, being managers in their own right. So we just try to make sure we have a good working week, get the best preparation, try and pick the right team, which is always something that you feel that weight of responsibility.
"I feel every decision we make has a lot of weight behind it, and we've got to just try and help the boys do their job to get over the line. But I've every trust in the players. They deserve it over the period now and I just want them to try and see the job through now."
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