It's a year since Hibernian broke their transfer record to bring Thibault Klidje to Leith, but the Togo international is still waiting to ignite. The record signing label, which can turn footballers from diamonds to duds in the blink of an eye, has hung around Klidje's neck for 12 months.
Incredibly, next week marks a year since the striker arrived on a £1.5m deal from Luzern. Yet it feels like he's still to get started. David Gray will certainly hope that's the case now after a lively pre-season camp in Ireland saw Klidje look sharp against Shamrock Rovers then hit a double against Cliftonville.
The burden of the record fee
Tam McManus, writing exclusively for us, says: "It's a transfer curse that can turn footballers from diamonds to duds in the blink of a supporters’ eye. The record signing label might get fans excited but I can only imagine it carries a heavy burden for the player involved - and particularly a young striker moving to a different country."
Klidje signed a three-year deal with the club holding an option for a fourth. That means the next year should be the time to judge. McManus believes: "I was really impressed when he first came in. I thought he looked sharp in the European games coming off the bench. He’s nippy, can get in behind defences and when he scored his first goal away to Livingston he absolutely ran the Lions ragged."
Four goals in total by mid-January was a slow start, and it never quite happened for him before being sent on loan to Randers in Denmark. But that move was part of his development rather than looking for a way out.
Patience required for young strikers
McManus argues that inflated price tags equal inflated expectations. "Fans see the seven-figure fee and immediately expect a 20-goal a season hitman. But Hibs haven’t had one of those in the top flight since Leigh Griffiths 13 years ago. Big investments deserve time and patience to pay off."
Klidje's only 24, having come from Swiss football. McManus notes: "He’s come from Swiss football and had to settle into a new country, a new league and our game is unique. I say it every year, it's absolutely nothing compared to other leagues that I see. It's so physical and fast, lots of long balls and it's not as technical as other leagues. It takes a while to settle in, some people take to it like a duck to water. But some don't."
Pre-season promise and the need for more firepower
McManus watched the game against Shamrock Rovers: "He came on at half-time and looked lively. The friendly against Cliftonville was behind closed doors so I’ve not seen his two goals in that one. I believe one was a close-in header and the other a clinical finish which should do his confidence the world of good. He’s looking fit and sharp and scoring goals. I wouldn't give up on him."
Hibs need at least one more striker, a physical type to replace Kieron Bowie. McManus says: "Get that and they’ll be in decent shape after the signings of Jason Kerr, Callum Wright and Azeem Abdulai. Don’t forget Josh Mulligan will hopefully be back and firing in midfield too."
Changing the narrative against Hearts
McManus stresses: "It’s about targeting finishing above Hearts - something that should always be the case at Hibs. The media coverage of the two clubs this summer tells its own story - a tale of two seasons. Hearts splashed all over the sports pages and brimming with excitement ahead of a Champions League qualifying shot after a campaign that almost delivered a fairytale ending. Hibs flying under the radar after a season that was just a bit ‘meh’. They absolutely must change the narrative this time round."
Gray said he doesn’t want anyone getting comfortable at the club. McManus adds: "There needs to be pressure on managers to get results. There needs to be pressure on players to keep playing well. Pressure on your jersey. Hibs supporters will be looking across the city and thinking, wait a minute Hearts spent net £400,000 or something and they nearly won the league. So why are we settling for fifth or even fourth?"
Finding a frontman who can break the 20-goal barrier would be a huge help. That’s the kind of target Klidje, Boyle, Elding and Suto should be placing on themselves.
