Sol Bamba worries where Hibs would be without Kevin Nisbet amid Celtic interest in the striker.
After coming back from a cruciate knee ligament injury, Nisbet has hit seven goals in six games to offer some hope to Hibees that they can save their season under Lee Johnson. To do that though, they need Nisbet fit and firing and so are desperate to hold on to him beyond the end of the January transfer window.
The Hoops are in search of a striker with Giorgos Giakoumakis on the verge of leaving the club. A move for Cho Gue-sung isn’t dead yet and compatriot Oh Hyeun-gyu is also a target. Record Sport revealed that Hibs insists Nisbet is not for sale at any price, although his value is set to decrease in the summer as he enters the final year of his contract. Bamba wants to see Hibs keep him, but admits there’s not much they’ll be able to do if the player wants to move on.
“The player did so well to come back,” said the former Easter Road defender. “He had a bad knee injury.
“He’s scored seven in six but it’s up to the club really. I dare to imagine where Hibs will be without him.
“If they let him go and don't replace him with someone as good, it’s going to be difficult. But at the same time, when Celtic or Rangers come calling, it’s difficult to turn it down.
“I’m guessing he’s an ambitious player who wants to play at the highest level with big clubs. It will be difficult but so far Hibs have said no although it will be interesting to see if he's still here at the end of the window.
“The club will have a conversation with him and ask what he wants to do. If he wants to go, they’ll probably sell him, because they don't want him to be in the last year of his contract.
“If he doesn’t want to go, then they’ll probably give him a new contract so when they eventually sell him, the money will be higher. I’m sure that conversation will be taking place between him and the club.”
Ryan Porteous is likely to leave the club this month after knocking back an offer to extend his deal beyond the end of the season. Blackburn and Udinese are keen to land him and Bamba highly recommends his former club as a good move for the 23-year-old Scotland international.
“I think it would be a good move for him,” he told Sky Sports. “Obviously Hibs fans won’t be happy to lose him but I guess he wants to come down to England and test himself.
“Blackburn would be a good club for him. Their captain got injured in the last game which is probably why their interest is a bit more now.
“He’ll be a big miss when he eventually leaves the club. BUt it would be a big move and good move for him to go to Blackburn.”
Bamba also backed Lee Johnson to thrive under a director of football. The club announced their intention to appoint one last week, moving away from the committee that currently handles recruitment, which includes Johnson, chief executive Ben Kensell and head of recruitment Ian Gordon.
“I think it’s good for him and the club to bring in a director of football,” said Bamba. “That takes a lot of weight off the manager’s shoulders so he can focus on the pitch.
“That’s what Lee Johnson is; he’s very good on the pitch, he’s a good coach. He likes to coach his players so it would be good for him if he gets someone upstairs looking at bringing players in and moving them out.
“Hibs is a big club. People don’t realise. It’s a capital club so when the results are not good, then straight away you’re under pressure.
“But I think they’ve got the right manager and if they appoint a sporting director, it will help Lee Johnson. Hopefully he’ll be successful.”
READ NEXT:
