Ryan Porteous 'in no rush to leave Hibs' as QPR circle

Hibs boss Jack Ross does not sense that defender Ryan Porteous is in “any desperate rush to leave” the Easter Road club but both manager and player accept that there may come a time when moving on is the right thing for him to do.

QPR are the latest club credited with an interest in signing the 22 year-old centre-half, who was the subject of a £1million bid from Millwall in January.

The Leith side turned down that offer but, having continued to improve and played a key role in taking Hibs to the cusp of their first top-three finish in 16 years and into yet another cup semi-final, the Scotland U-21 cap is on the watchlist of several English clubs.

But, Ross does not expect the fresh speculation to distract the academy graduate – who dispatched the winning spot-kick in last weekend’s Scottish Cup quarter-final – shoot-out and is expected to make his 40th appearance of the season against St Johnstone on Saturday.

Ryan Porteous has been attracting more interest from English clubs who are considering summer bids for the Hibs defender. Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group

“I do think he’s probably in the best place he has ever been here,” said his Hibs gaffer.

“He’s had a really, really good season. He’s been really consistent, he’s matured again, he’s grown, his leadership qualities are brilliant, and he’s a good, good player.

“I think because of his association with this club and his affection for it I don’t ever think he is in a rush to leave but he knows there will come a time when it may be right for him in terms of how he wants to progress his career.

“But never for one second in the conversations I have had with him, formally or informally, have I ever got the sense that he is in any desperate rush to leave Hibs.

“He loves the club, it means a lot to him and this period coming up means a lot to him.

“I’m proud of how he has progressed this season and I’m proud of how, since I came to the club and the conversations I have had with him and the things we’ve looked at improving, he’s bought into that.

“We had poke and prod him along and cajole him but ultimately it’s up to him and he has very much grabbed that, he has made a lot of strides forward.”

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