Hibs snap up Nisbet
HIBS have splashed out £250,000 to secure indemand Championship goal machine Kevin Nisbet — further hastening their need to secure hard cash by selling Flo Kamberi. Despite the Easter Road club being forced to impose wage deferrals and make redundancies during the Covid-19 crisis, manager Jack Ross was given the funds to pursue a player who came close to signing for them in January. Nisbet, who attracted interest from a number of clubs while he was banging
in 23 goals for Dunfermline last season, is expected to have his transfer confirmed today. And that makes it ever more likely that Swiss striker Kamberi, subject of a failed season-long loan bid from Rangers, will only be allowed to leave on a permanent deal in exchange for a decent fee. Nisbet, who came through the ranks at Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers, almost joined Hibs in a £400,000 switch during the mid-season transfer window. Left disappointed when his shot at Premiership football fell through, the 23-year-old has since been the subject of bids by Portsmouth and Dundee United, where former boss Robbie Neilson was very keen to take him to Tannadice. With those two clubs falling out of the picture following Neilson’s departure for Hearts and Portsmouth’s failure to reach the EFL Championship via the play-offs, Hibs were left as the only serious suitors standing. With no guaranteed income for Championship clubs until the second tier kicks off in October, Pars chairman Ross McArthur has accepted a lower fee for a player who is out of contract at the end of the season. Nisbet travelled to the Hibs Training Centre last night to complete the deal. Hibs manager Ross has already accepted that he will be without Kamberi for the big kick-off on August 1. And, with Marc McNulty having returned to parent club Reading after his second loan spell in Leith last season, Nisbet will be expected to compete for a starting place with Christian Doidge and academy graduate Jamie Gullan. Hibs also expect to announce the capture of former St Johnstone winger Drey Wright today, with the 25-year-old free agent having agreed terms on a two-year deal.