Hibees facing a fight to hang on to Mcgeouch
Hibs head coach Neil Lennon admits he has a fight on his hands to convince midfielder Dylan Mcgeouch to extend his contract at Easter Road.
Lennon insists he can understand the 25-yearold’s decision to stall on signing fresh terms with the Leith club and reckons Mcgeouch will not be short of offers from clubs north and south of the border when the player’s current deal expires in the summer.
The former Celtic trainee is finally fulfilling his potential at Hibs after injury restricted the playmaker to a total of just 25 league starts in the previous two campaigns.
Aberdeen have already been linked with the player and Lennon admits he is fearing the worst.
Lennon said: “This season Dylan has been as good as anybody, particularly in the Scottish game anyway.
“We have an offer on the table and he is weighing up his options, which he has every right to do We may go back to him, he’ s quite comfortable with the situation – we’re obviously not, but I understand his take on it as well.
“No clubs have been in touch with us but it would not surprise me if he were to leave.
“I’m sure there will be plenty of suitors for him north and south of the border and that’ s something we have to be wary of.
“I’m not convinced it would be the right thing to do but the decision is down to Dylan.
“I can’t lock him in a cupboard – much as I’d like to – and say, ‘Right you’re not leaving until you sign here’.
“What I can say is, ‘ You’ve had a brilliant season and there is no reason why you can’t improve again here’.”
Meanwhile, across the city, Craig Levein has not ruled out making Joaquim Adao’s loan stay at Hearts permanent.
The combative Angolan has emerged as an immediate fans’ favourite since arriving at the club from Sion in January, adding steel and bite to the Jambos midfield.
Ad a oh as already indicated that he would be open to a longer deal in the capital, revealing last week: “I am enjoying Edinburgh and I am enjoying Hearts. If I have the chance to come back here, then why not?”
The 25- year- old has a lucrative contract with the Swiss outfit which runs until the summer of 2020, however Levein will weigh up whether a swoop is feasible, and desirable, later this season.
The Hearts boss smiled: “It’s quite nice that everybody wants to stay!
“The deal that we did with him involved paying part of his salary with his club and I didn’t think about anything other than bringing a good midfielder in to play for us between the window and the end of the season.
“The time for that kind of talk will be nearer the end of the season when I have had an opportunity to see him playing week in, week out, but I am encouraged by his early matches.”