Hibs' Scottish Cup hero Liam Henderson set to join Serie B side

Empoli reportedly keen to keep midfielder after loan spell

Liam Henderson in action for Hibs in 2016. Pic Craig Foy, SNS Group

Hibs legend Liam Henderson is expected to join Empoli on a permanent deal, according to reports.

The 24-year-old played seven times for the Serie B side, who are said to be keen to exercise their option to buy after securing the midfielder on loan from Hellas Verona in January.

Henderson, who helped Hibs win their first Scottish Cup in 114 years while on loan from Celtic in 2016, was believed to have been in talks over a possible Easter Road return in January, but opted instead to remain in Italy.

Henderson left Celtic in January 2018 to join Bari before switching to Verona after the club went bankrupt.

He became the first Scotsman to play in Serie A in 33 years, since Graeme Souness starred for Sampdoria, when he played in Verona's opening day fixture against Bologna.

However, he fell out of the first team picture and was loaned to Empoli, where he managed to impress, helping them move up from being relegation strugglers to play-off contenders.