Hibs to assess free agent transfer market as 'specific player' requirement needed for additional signing
Hibs have assessed their summer transfer business.
Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay insists the club will consider signing free agents - but only if it’s a ‘specific’ profile.
Head coach David Gray added West Brom full-back Alex Williams on loan just before the end of transfer window last week but players without clubs are still available to Premiership clubs like Hibs. Striker Dwight Gayle is one free agent move they have benefitted from in recent years while there have been rumours of former Burnley and Liverpool striker Danny Ings since the close of the summer recruitment period.
After eight additions to the squad - with striker Colton Swan to join in the winter - Mackay says another move would be mulled over if it’s a correct fit. He said: “We've got a couple of younger players that we may put on loan to take a little bit of game time that probably need it between now and Christmas.
Could Hibs sign a free agent?
“We'll look at the free agent market. It would have to be a very specific type of player that comes up for that and we'll not be scouring that for another three or four players maybe one player we would look at in terms of what that market would look like but it would have to be a very specific player we're looking at as far as that's concerned. So a little bit of business still to do as far as that's concerned.
“Then we start again in terms of looking at where the squad is to see where there are potential holes. Looking at where the next needs to be strengthened are. and where potentially people are coming out of contract next summer. and what we would look at in terms of replacements for those. That would be the build up to the January market."
In an interview with Hibs TV, Mackay added on the window as a whole: “It's interesting in terms of the balance of when you can get players in. Clearly, we all try to make sure that we can get them in as early as possible. It's never the case. Clubs and players don't want to decide until they see what options they've got out there. I think it was important that we managed to get a couple of guys in for the summer training camp in Ireland.
“So we got Jason Kerr and Callum Wright in for that, and it was good to get a couple of senior options in who have got plenty of experience, but kind of hit the ground running. That kind of sweet spot of late 20s-type player that has got plenty of games under their belt. It's also important that we bring in some young players as well. We looked at that with Azeem Abdulai coming in from Leyton Orient, who's a young Scottish player with great legs and good experience already with Leicester, Swansea and Leyton Orient first team to have with us over in Ireland and settle in.
Hibs transfer window assessed
“I think after that, then it's what players do we need, and can we get in before the season starts? We managed to get a couple in in terms of just before the season started with Nathan Lowe and Adam Mayor, managing to get them in then. Near the end of the transfer window, you're kind of looking at it saying what else is needed? What else is actually still out there?
“And there's always one or two that pop up at that point. Can you react late to situations? At that point, Jacob Devaney comes in and Marco Ivezic comes in, and also Colton Swan. We brought in, really at the death, young Alex from West Brom. It's looking at the balance of the squad in terms of mature ones, guys that have kind of hit the ground running, younger ones with potential and obviously our academy products that are through there to build the whole squad.”
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