NORTH MACEDONIAN club FC Vardar have insisted their star man Rogers Mato is not for sale, after they rejected an improved offer from Hearts.
The Premiership leaders have targeted the Ugandan international, who netted for his country in the African Cup of Nations.
They had an initial offer of £300,000 rejected and reports in North Macedonia have stated a second improved offer of £450,000 has also been booted out.
And the club have made it clear in a statement they have no intention of selling the 22-year-old, who has a year left on his contract.
They stated: “We received an offer from the Hearts team in Scotland, which was rejected without hesitation.
“The management and coaching staff of FC Vardar aim to win both the league and cup in Macedonian football, as well as making a more convincing performance in the next European competitions.
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“So there was almost no thought about selling the top scorer in the league – he has scored 12 goals already for us in the first part of the season.
“Rogers Mato has fully recovered from the injury of a fractured foot, due to which he was absent from several matches.
“And we expect him back to full fitness at the beginning of the second part of the Macedonian First Football League season.”
Hearts face competition from several clubs across Europe to land the 41-times capped talent, who scored against Nigeria in the Morocco tournament.
The Jambos have been busy in the transfer window as they look to bolster their squad for the title run-in.
Derek McInnes‘ side are three points clear of second-placed Rangers in the Scottish Premiership but have a game in hand.
They’ve already brought in defender Jordi Altena from RKC Waalwijk and Kazakhstan international winger Islam Chesnokov from FC Tobol.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
