Hibs transfer news: Latest on Rangers and Celtic Bowie interest as Easter Road club chase new striker
Could club net £6 million-plus for striker on radar of Premier League strugglers Wolves?
Hibs have received no contact from clubs reportedly interested in Kieron Bowie, despite both Rangers AND Celtic now among those credited with putting out feelers regarding the Scotland striker. According to senior figures at Easter Road, none of the reported suitors - including Premier League side Wolves - have even reached out for guidance on what sort of a fee it would take to secure the Edinburgh club’s joint top scorer.
Both Old Firm sides are desperately seeking to add firepower to their respective front lines as they chase down league leaders Hearts in one of the craziest top-flight campaigns in living memory. And Bowie is an obvious target for both.
Top scorer bagged beauty in Edinburgh derby
He’s currently sitting top of the Easter Road scoring charts, alongside Martin Boyle and Jamie McGrath, with eight goals in all competitions. At 23, the former Fulham and Raith Rovers forward - fully recovered from a serious injury that hampered his first season back in Scottish football following his summer 2024 move to Hibs - has already shown an ability to score goals in the Scottish Premiership, including against Hearts in last month’s derby win.
Bowie remains in contention for a place in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for next summer’s World Cup. And has made being part of that tournament a priority.
Old Firm bidding war could drive price up
Signed for around £600,000 by Hibs at the start of last season, he would be expected to fetch up to TEN TIMES that amount on the open market. Especially if an Old Firm bidding war drives the price up.
But Hibs boss David Gray, who has been tracking Sheffield Wednesday centre forward Bailey Cadamarteri as a potential addition to his front line, is eager to retain his top stars - Josh Mulligan has also been linked with both Nottingham Forest and Leeds United - to build on the current momentum over the second half of the season. With all bets off at the business end of the table, there is an obvious decision to be made over whether cashing in now would allow Gray to reinvest in pursuit of more European football.
Speaking to The Evening News this week, Gray said: “You never say nobody's for sale or nobody's going. Absolutely not.
“But what you would say is, the two boys you mentioned, Kieron and Josh, are getting speculation. Speculation will always be there. That's a sign that you're doing well. And when the window's open, that'll always be there.”
Addressing his own hopes to strengthen the squad earlier today, meanwhile, the Hibs boss said: “It's not as if we're doing anything in the next 24 hours or anything like that. So I think it's very much a case of keep working hard and see what comes up and see what can be done.
“It’s understanding the market and the timing. You shouldn't really react off the back of a result or a performance. You should believe in what you're doing all the time and have a long-term plan.
"Clearly, you do have to react in certain situations and be proactive when you come into the window, especially this one because a lot can happen very quickly. Usually, as the window goes on and once teams start to move and other things happen it can have a bit of a knock-on effect. You definitely need to be on the front foot with these things.”
While the Cadamarteri option - among others - is being actively considered, Hibs are looking at bringing in another striker to supplement their options, rather than replace anyone heading out before the window closes.