Akunnor gets $2.5 million to buy players

SuperSport.com understands that an astounding five million Ghana cedis (GHS 5 million; $2.5 million) has been made available to Hearts of Oak's technical teams as the search for talent continues in the transfer window.

It's that time of the season again, when big clubs turn on themselves after their inability win silverware. Hearts of Oak are top of that pile and the unprecedented sum is a definite statement of the club's intent. Club chairman Togbe Afede XIV is desperate that Hearts perform at the highest level at this time of rebuilding.

"We have found the problems that militated against us over the past season and we are trying to resolve them," he says.

The club failed to challenge for the Premier League and crashed out of the FA Cup in the latter stages. The end of season gala was also dominated by rivals, Kotoko. According to the chairman, rebuilding is necessary and money is readily available.

"The most important thing, notably, is the need to strengthen the squad. Money to strengthen the squad is not an issue," the royal stated. According to him, attracting the best players in the market and motivating them about the Hearts project remains the club's key challenge. "The issue is attracting the best players in order to give us a balanced squad - one that is strong is defence, strong in the middle and strong in attack."

Hearts finished third on the league log and were eliminated in the quarters of the FA Cup, but Togbe Afede says all is calm. "And so far I can assure you that we are on the right track. We have spoken to very good players."

SuperSport.com has learnt that club coach Charles Akonnor has also submitted his list of transfer targets to the side, which are undergoing consideration at management level. Akunnor has also insisted that he is not affected by the uncertainty surrounding the future of the club chief executive, Fred Crentsil.