BURNLEY have had another bid to sign left winger Andrew Driver from Hearts rejected by the Scottish Premier League club.

The Clarets upped their original offer of a £1.5million down payment, rising to £3m, by £1m.

I understand Hearts turned down Burnley’s latest cash bid of £2.5m, which would rise to £4m with add-ons. On top of that, the deal also includes a sell-on clause which a source described as “a large percentage” in order to tempt the Tynecastle club.

Hearts, however, have dug their heels in and are believed to be demanding at least £3m before they consider allowing the much-admired wide man to hold talks.

Bundesliga side Cologne are thought to be monitoring the situation after losing out on Serbia starlet Zoran Tosic.

The former Manchester United youngster spent five months on loan with Cologne last season, scoring five goals in 13 league games.

But CSKA Moscow, who were also understood to be tracking Driver, this month swooped to sign 23-year-old left winger Tosic on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £8m.

It was rumoured that Driver was lined up to join CSKA in January if a proposed move to Chelsea had gone ahead.

The Tosic transfer appears to scupper that idea, however, Cologne are looking for a replacement with a similar profile and could challenge Burnley for his signature.