Platinum One, the Edinburgh-based sports and event management agency confirmed that talks are ongoing with a view to a similar arrangement before the 2008-9 campaign.

"We are working with Barcelona at the moment on part of their pre-season programme," said Fife Hyland, chief executive of Platinum One. "Scotland is certainly on their agenda, but we can't confirm if they are coming back or not."

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has expressed his enthusiasm for Scotland on several occasions, as has coach Frank Rijkaard.

While Hearts are making pre-season plans which do not include the possibility of facing Barcelona again, there will be no shortage of other clubs willing to fit them into their schedules.

The drawing power of Barcelona was underlined last summer when a crowd of 58,000 turned out at Murrayfield for their game against Hearts.