Hearts have hit back at Blackpool manager Mick McCarthy over claims they are not being honest over a bid for Toby Sibbick.
The centre back has impressed in recent months and the Tynecastle club turned down a bid of around £400,000 for the player earlier this week. The 23-year-old joined on a permanent basis from Barnsley in January 2021. McCarthy, who recently took over at the Seasiders, claimed the Jam Tarts were attempting to up the bidding for Sibbick by making the offer public. He said: "I’m not quite sure they (Hearts) are being honest. Are they just trying to trigger somebody else to come in and offer more? I don’t get that. Sometimes people say somebody has bid hoping they can get a bigger bid."
However, the capital club have now released a statement saying they have only received one bid for Sibbick despite reports of a second one also being turned down. Hearts have also made it clear to Blackpool that the Englishman is "not for sale" and that they would prefer if transfer business was kept private.
In a scathing statement, the club said: "The club wishes to put an end to speculation surrounding the future of Toby Sibbick. Contrary to comments attributed to Blackpool manager Mick McCarthy earlier today, we can confirm that Blackpool submitted one bid for Toby on Monday, at 8.33pm, which was dismissed out of hand.
"Subsequently, Blackpool have been told that Toby, a much-valued part of our team, is not for sale. For anyone to suggest that we have been not “honest” about the situation is, in itself, extremely disingenuous. The club would prefer to conduct all transfer matters in private, but we will not sit back and let the good name of Heart of Midlothian be besmirched."
READ NEXT:
