Hearts captain Alim Oturk has invited the club to make him a new contract offer after admitting that he is loving life at Tynecastle.
The defender is relishing his first foray into the Europa League after captaining the Gorgie outfit to a third place finish in the Premiership this season.
Ozturk, whose current deal expires next summer, arrived in June 2014 from Turkish side Trabzonspor and helped Hearts clinch the Championship title in his maiden campaign in Scotland.
And the 23-year-old admits he would be happy to commit his long-term future to Robbie Neilson’s side.
He said: “I still have one year and I am happy here. If the club want me to sign for another year or something I will be happy, no problem. I am happy with everything and how everything is going so why not?
“I am still 23 years-old and I am not finished here. I want to build something with the club and I think we are going the right way.
“In my second year, to finish third and go into Europe, that is incredible and I believe we can build up from here.
“Can we challenge for the title? I hope so. That’s one thing I want as well.”
Hearts will enter the Europa League first qualifying round on June 30 and Ozturk is keen to test himself in the competition having been told all about the club’s memorable clash with Liverpool in 2012.
He added: “This will be the first time I’ve played in Europe. It will be different and I hope we will get a nice draw, not too far away.
“I have heard about the Liverpool because the boys have been talking about that.
“I heard about playing Liverpool and for them it was the most beautiful experience. I hope that we can do the same.”
Head coach Neilson, meanwhile, reckons Hearts are a role model for the rest of Scottish football.
The Gorgie outfit continued their policy of being transparent with their supporters earlier this week when owner Ann Budge announced details of their plans to fund a proposed £12 million new main stand.
Since exiting administration in June 2014, the club have earned plaudits for their work on and off the pitch, with the 8,000-strong fans group the Foundation of Hearts scheduled to become the majority shareholders.
Neilson, whose side will complete their campaign at home to St Johnstone today, has also masterminded a third place finish in the Premiership in their first season back in the top-flight, and he believes Hearts are leading by example.
He said: “We hope we are the model club for a lot of teams. You can see a lot of teams trying to implement a lot of things that we do here, which is good.
“I think it’s really important that we’re really open with fans and the rest of Scottish football about what we’re doing and what the plans are.
“From the fans’ point of view, these are the people that are funding the club. There’s people putting money into the Foundation of Hearts every month and you have to keep them informed about what’s going on; about the plans and what’s going on in those plans.
“It’s important the fans understand, it’s their money that’s sustaining the club. It’s a great time to be here. It’s great to have the backing of everyone and with Ann in charge of it.
“I speak to Ann at least once a week, I have a meeting with her. She’s been great with me and the way she’s taking the club forward has been fantastic. There’s talk of her getting onto the SPFL board and I think it would be great for Scottish football.”
