Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay has confirmed the club could still add a tenth signing from the free agent market, with a 'very specific type' of player still targeted.
The Easter Road side added nine new faces during the transfer window, but with star striker Owen Elding injured, head coach David Gray is keen to bolster his attacking options.
Free agent market under review
Mackay would not name names, but former England striker Danny Ings is considering his options after the Easter Road club made the 34-year-old an offer last week.
“We’ll look at the free agent market. It would have to be a very specific type of player that comes up for that,” Mackay said.
“We’ll not be scouring that for another three or four players. Maybe one player we would look at. So a little bit of business still to do as far as that's concerned.”
Squad evolution and departures
Hibs youngsters Rudi Molotnikov and Jacob MacIntyre secured loan moves to Arbroath yesterday. First team regulars Warren O’Hora, Chris Cadden and Josh Campbell were among the departures during the window, with O’Hora completing a move to Leicester City, Cadden joining Aberdeen and Campbell moving on loan to St Johnstone.
Mackay revealed there was interest in other Easter Road stars, but key men Elding, Josh Mulligan and Miguel Chaiwa remain in Gray’s squad.
“Delighted that we managed to keep a hold of those players. I'm sure they're going to kick on and become really good players,” Mackay told Hibs TV.
Player journeys and next steps
Mackay said the squad has evolved significantly since he arrived two years ago, with players using Hibs as a platform for their careers.
“We talk to players when we go to sign them to talk about where we could be in their career and where they either go from here or do they settle here and this becomes their final place,” he said.
“But most of the guys we're talking about generally are a stepping stone to the next thing, whether that's an international appearance or whether that's hopefully to one of Europe's big five leagues.”
On O’Hora’s departure, Mackay said the defender threw himself into everything and was given the platform to play at the highest level in Scotland. He added that the club ended up with a sum of money felt to be commensurate to Warren leaving.
