Nisbet looks set to stay at Hibs as Cosgrove seals Birmingham deal

striker Kevin Nisbet’s proposed move to Birmingham City looks to have broken down.

The English Championship side had lodged a second improved bid for the forward but the offer of close to £3 million by the time add-ons had been paid out was shy of the Easter Road club’s valuahibernian tion for the player they signed from Dunfermline in the summer.

With the Blues unwilling to raise their offer, matters have reached a stalemate and Nisbet, who still has more than three years to run on his contract, is now expected to remain with the Leith club until at least the summer.

With 13 goals in 30 appearances, the 23-year-old has been a key player for Jack Ross’ men, who sit within touching distance of second place in the Premiership. That form, in his first season in the top tier, has seen Nisbet touted for a Scotland call-up and captured the attention of clubs south of the border.

Hibs knocked back Birmingham’s original offer for Nisbet, thought to be in the region of £2m, but after successfully signing Sam Cosgrove from Aberdeen, Blues manager Aitor Karanka made it clear that Nisbet remained high on his list of targets and the club increased their bid for the promising young star.

However, with the transfer window due to close tonight, and little time left to recruit a replacement, Hibs have decided the financial return does not outweigh the value of Nisbet’s on-field contribution in the ongoing battle to finish as high up the Premiership table as possible.

Cosgrove completed his move to Birmingham yesterday, signing a contract that will run until June 2024 after the Dons accepted an undisclosed fee which is believed to be around the £2m mark.

"It feels really good to be here," the striker told Birmingham's website. "As soon as the interest was there from Birmingham it was a no-brainer from me and I'm really delighted to get it over the line.”

Cosgrove scored 47 goals in 103 appearances for Aberdeen after joining from Carlisle in a £30,000 deal three years ago.

Martin Boyle welcomes news that Ryan Porteous and Kevin Nisbet may be staying at Hibs