Hibs close in on duo as Lennon eyes Samaras

NEIL LENNON is closing in on deals to bring Anthony Stokes and Steven Whittaker back to Hibs — and is also weighing up a move to bring former Celtic striker Georgios Samaras to the club.

The sale of Jason Cummings to Nottingham Forest has left Lennon in need of striking options ahead of Hibs’ top-flight return and Stokes, unwanted at Blackburn following the club’s relegation to League One, is available.

Blackburn are willing to sever ties with the Irishman, however a loan deal is also a possibility.

Samaras, meanwhile, is on the market following a short spell at Real Zaragoza last season.

The 32-year-old spent six-and-a-half years at Celtic but left the club in 2014 to join West Brom. He failed to make an impact in the Premier League and his career has since meandered through a loan spell at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia and then on to the US, where he played for Oklahoma franchise Rayo OKC before winding up in Spain earlier this year.

Having lost out to Hearts in the pursuit of Kyle Lafferty, the prospect of reuniting Samaras and Stokes holds appeal to Lennon but his hopes of signing Danny Graham look destined to flounder.

Whittaker is now a free agent following the expiry of his deal at Norwich City.

The 33-year-old started his career with Hibs and shone under both Tony Mowbray and John Collins before moving to Rangers, then Norwich five years later.

Hibs are also reported to be interested in Cambridge United midfielder Luke Berry. The 24-year-old scored 22 times in League Two last season.

DEFENDER Niall Keown has completed a return to Partick Thistle, where he spent the second half of last season on loan, signing a two-year deal.