Porteous turns down ‘fantastic’ Hibs contract

Lee Johnson has revealed that Hibs will look to cash in on Ryan Porteous in January after the Scotland defender made it clear he will not be signing fresh terms.

The club and the player have been locked in talks for weeks but Johnson has now admitted defeat in their attempts to keep hold of the 23-year-old.

Johnson also believes Hibs are now paying the cost of failing to tie Porteous, who is entering the final six months of his deal, down on a new contract years ago.

Porteous is unlikely to be short of offers after boosting his profile with an outstanding international debut in September’s goalless UEFA Nations League draw in Ukraine.

Speaking after yesterday’s 2-0 friendly defeat to Middlesbrough at Easter Road, Hibs boss Johnson said: “The fact is and I’m probably better off just coming out with it, he ain’t signing a new contract.

“At the end of the day, we’ve offered a fantastic contract, a really big one for the football club and in my eyes a contract that should have been offered two-and-a-half years earlier for a player of that quality.

“I’ve got no issue with Ryan at all. He turned down the best contact we could offer and therefore is seeking pastures new.

“I think potentially a January sale would be the best idea if we realise the fee, because at that point you can reinvest the money back into the club.

“If I was a Championship manager, and I have been in the past, he is the exact type of player I would be looking at.”

Hibs welcomed back Kevin Nisbet after 10 months out with through injury.

Chuba Akpom and Sonny Finch scored for the English side after the break.