Aberdeen manager Craig Brown expects 25-year old defender Alexander Diamond to depart the club for Hearts at the end of the season.

After watching his side draw 0-0 with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park last night, the Dons boss revealed how transfer talks with Hearts boss Jim Jefferies indicated that that Diamond may be on his way to Edinburgh in the summer.

"To Jim Jefferies' great credit, he phoned me today and said: 'I have not spoken to Zander Diamond but the possibility is, when I have gathered all the information, I will speak to him, but I will let you know'. You can't get fairer than that," he said.

"Obviously we will offer Zander a contract.

"If it's just about money we might not be successful. But if he takes everything into consideration and is happy here and I hope he thinks the team is going places, that might influence him.

"But the usual deciding factor is financial and in that regard I think we would struggle to compete."

Diamond has been at Pittodrie Stadium for his entire career, kicking off in 2003 and notching up close to 200 league appearances.