Revealing some details of the negotiations at a press conference yesterday, Togbe Afede XIV noted that the club had been engaging Barnieh over a contract extension since last year and was bent on offering the 21-year-old a bumper deal.

He said the player had always promised to extend his stay with the Phobians and believed Barnieh would put pen to paper when the time came.

“He is currently our best player and we don’t want to lose him so we are doing everything possible to get him to extend his contract with us,” Togbe Afede XIV said.

“He has always promised that he will extend with Hearts and we hope that he will fulfill that when the time comes up again.”

Barnieh has been instrumental for the national local-based stars, Black Galaxies, and helped them qualify for next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria.

The playmaker has had stints with the Black Stars and is hopeful of making the team to the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar next month.

Talking about the delay in announcing an extension, Togbe Afede XIV said Barnieh’s engagement with the Galaxies and Stars had delayed the contract extension.

“We want him to concentrate on national duties whenever he gets the chance so the club allowed him to focus and that has delayed the negotiations.”