PAY RISE ON WAY FOR HIBS ACE NISBET
HIBS want to reward Scotland star Kevin Nisbet with improved terms.
The striker has a deal until 2024 but the Easter Road side feel he deserves an uplift in his wage.
The Leith club handed Martin Boyle a new deal this month and have now opened talks to bring Nisbet into line with the club’s top earners.
Nisbet moved from Dunfermline last summer and had a sensational first season in the top flight.
He was Hibs’ top scorer with 18 goals and also forced his way into Steve Clarke’s Scotland plans to form part of the Euro 2020 squad.
Hibs turned down multiple big-money bids from Birmingham for the in-demand frontman in the January window.
That did leave Nisbet unsettled but the striker got his head down and ended the season strongly as Hibs finished third.
And Nisbet is now happy at Easter Road despite recent speculation.
There is strong interest in him from England and overseas but the player is not pushing for a move and instead is just looking to continue progressing with Hibs.
Nisbet missed the weekend draw with Dundee through illness.
But manager Jack Ross admitted after the game he expects him to return for the Livingston clash this weekend.
The frontman was also linked with a player swap with Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths going the other way but that scenario was shot down by Ross.
Hibs are still trying to strengthen their squad before the window closes next week.
Ross has said he would like to bolster his options at both ends of the park.
They are still trying to work on a deal to bring in US international Chris Mueller in this window.
He has agreed a precontract move for January but Hibs would like to push that forward.
Talks are ongoing, although Orlando City and Major League Soccer have made them play the waiting game on that front.
Hibs are also looking to bolster their backline options and have taken former Rangers defender Harris O’Connor in on trial.
However, the Easter Road side have failed in a number of bids for St Johnstone defender Jamie McCart.
Hibs are likely to go back in for the 24-year-old but any move could depend on whether or not the Perth club continue their European assault beyond tonight.
If they can get past LASK in their play-off second leg at McDiarmid Park, they will be looking at Europa Conference League action until Christmas at least.
It would then make it harder to try to persuade McCart to walk away from that, especially as he is in the final year of his contract.
Other options are being worked on.