CLARETS chairman Barry Kilby is hopeful that defender Drissa Diallo will put pen to paper on a new deal today that will keep him at Turf Moor until the end of the season.

And he is also hopeful that keeper Marlon Beresford's future will be sorted out, possibly with an even longer contract.

Talks with Diallo's agent yesterday went well and the chairman admitted this morning: "We are very near to a deal although you never want to say it is done until it is all signed. We hope it will all be finalised later today."

A similar deal until the end of the current season is also one possible outcome from the talks with Beresford, who is coming to the end of his fifth month-long contract.

"It might be until May, which would at least get us away from having him on a month to month deal but I am still hoping it might be an even longer contract," said Kilby.

A deal until the summer of 2005 has been offered to the keeper in recent months but agreement has not been reached despite the 33-year-old expressing his desire to stay at the club.

Meanwhile speculation north of the border is that Scottish Premier League side Hibernian could be interested in signing Beresford's current understudy Nik Michopoulos.

The Edinburgh side allowed Tony Caig to join Newcastle United last Friday and the only back-up they have to the number one Nick Colgan is 39-year-old goalkeeping coach Ian Westwater.

Hibs boss Bobby Williamson has admitted that finding back-up has become a "matter of reasonable urgency" although he has refused to be drawn on speculation that the Greek international is one name in the frame.

Kilby said: "We have not been contacted by anyone and that would be a matter for the manager. We did let Nik go out on loan to Crystal Palace earlier in the season but we would not want to be going into this crucial stage of the season with just one keeper.

"Financially it might suit us but we cannot afford to spoil the ship for a ha'peth of tar."

Michopoulos is set to play for the reserves against Bury at Turf Moor tonight and the club is hopeful that the pitch will be playable after the recent wintry weather. The undersoil heating has been on all night and even though there was a covering of snow this morning, it should be okay.

Ronnie Jepson's side will be hoping to build on last week's win at Sheffield United.

There will again be chances for Dimitri Papadopoulos, Andy Payton and Gordon Armstrong while Arthur Gnohere has been named in the side after his struggles against Reading at the weekend.

Ternent has played the French defender in the second string before this season and he will be looking for an improved display ahead of the crunch game at Coventry City this weekend.

Burnley reserves game against Bury tonight has been postponed.