Exclusive:Hibs transfer news - Easter Road club close in on first summer signing as free agent defender talks deal
Centre-half undergoing medical - and announcement expected soon
Hibs are closing in on a deal for central defender Jason Kerr, as they kick off the official first day of the summer transfer window by stepping up contract talks with the free agent. The lifelong Hibs fan, who left Wigan Athletic when his contract expired at the end of the season, is believed to be in Edinburgh for negotiations with the Easter Road club.
Kerr was scheduled to undergo a medical in the capital this morning. And The Evening News can confirm that Hibs expect to complete the deal over the coming days.
A centre-half is a priority for David Gray. With Democratic Republic of Congo defender Rocky Bushiri still out for an unspecified period of time with a knee injury sustained at the end of last season, and Munashe Garananga leaving after the end of his loan spell. Hibs are short of a body - and commanding quality capable of competing with an established trio of starters - at the back.
Kerr has been a long-time target for the Edinburgh club, who were first linked with the defender – now 29 – five years ago, when he left Perth as a Scottish Cup and League Cup Double winner to join Wigan. A League One winner in his first season with the Latics, he went onto make 150 appearances for the club over five seasons, including 37 in the campaign just ended.
Hibs, who have Warren O’Hora, Jack Iredale and Scotland World Cup warrior Grant Hanley available to man the back three as things stand, have been competing with a number of rival clubs in Scotland and England for Kerr’s services. It now looks as they’re close to getting a deal done.
More targets on radar ahead of Euro return
Gray is also in pursuit of a centre forward and a central midfielder as Hibs look to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, while strengthening the squad ahead of a return to the UEFA Conference League next month. After qualifying for Europe in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 50 years, Hibs go into the second qualifying round of UEFA’s third-tier club competition, with the draw scheduled for lunchtime on Wednesday.
They’ll play the first leg of that tie on July 23, with the return match a week later, before kicking off their SPFL campaign on the weekend of August 1. The league fixtures are due to be released on Thursday.