What are we looking for?
The season is fast approaching and Keith Small is watching the transfer moves with interest....

As the summer starts to wear on, at last Hibernian seem to have jumped on to the transfer merry-go-round. Andy McLaren is training and seems likely to re-join his old manager, and any number of other names are being linked with the club. But what exactly are we looking for? Given our ‘cost cutting’ measures seem to have stalled, with all of the big earners who were told that they can leave still being here, we are perhaps not in as strong a position as we might be in respect to signing players. Craig Levein stated this week that given the deflation of the transfer market, Hearts can now get three players for the same wages that only used to get one. If this is indeed the case, then it is reasonable to assume that if O’Neil, Wiss, Colgan or Brebner (or anyone else for that matter) did all leave, then we could actually be in the position to bring in around five players and still have made a significant dent in the wage bill.

Obviously such financial balancing is down to our esteemed leader, Rod Petrie, but assuming a handful of new faces do come in, then what do we want? If we accept that McLaren will sign as an attacking midfielder, and that we are being quite strongly linked with another Scottish midfielder who plays on the left, then we can really concentrate on the back four (as I expect Williamson to revert to next season). It is glaringly obvious that we need a left back, and so that would have to be priority position. However, I would suggest that we desperately need at least one centre half. I wrote a piece towards the end of last season bemoaning the lack of spirit and steel in the team, and this has not been rectified yet. Gary Smith is a consistently good player, but we need somebody who will organise the rest of the back four and dominate in the air. In essence we need a presence, something we have not had since Messrs Sauzee and Hughes left.

Ian Murray - rumours linking him with Rangers - so what else is new! (sns)

Continuing with this line of thought, I would also suggest that we could do with a defensive midfielder, as we can assume that Wiss is on a wage that is just not justified by his performances in the current financial climate. If we can add the necessary steel to the spine of the team, and successfully combine it with the undoubted ability that exists in attacking terms already, then there is room for optimism for the coming season. If you look at last year, despite the negative feeling that surrounded the club for long spells; we were not actually that far away from pushing at the right end, nothing that concentrating for the full game would not have fixed.

So despite the uncertainty surrounding the medium and long-term future of the club at the moment, there is perhaps reason for some guarded optimism for the new season. I think that Hearts will be up there, as will Killie and Dundee. I think that Dundee Utd may reap some (short-term?) gains from their apparent largesse in the transfer market, but I see no reason why we cannot be up their pushing for a top-six spot at least. Perhaps that season ticket will be money (relatively) well spent for a change!

Hibs have made more moves in the transfer market with Dundee admitting that the Easter Road club have made enquiries about their goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.  The Dens Park club are considering an offer for Langfield, with boss Jim Duffy still considering if he wishes to release the Under-21 international.  Duffy said last night: "There have been discussions, but at this moment in time no decision has been made regarding his future."  Bobby Williamson is understood to be close to clinching Andy McLaren on a two-year deal.  McLaren has been training with the Hibs squad and a deal is expected to be forthcoming this week.  The club are also believed to be in talks with former Aberdeen and Newcastle defender Stephen Glass as Williamson increases the pace on preparations for the new season.  The rumour-mill is at full throttle with Ian Murray taking over from Garry O'Connor this summer in being linked with a move to Ibrox.

Two Hibs sides will be in action this weekend, with the Erin Hibs side facing their city rivals Real Maroon in the semi-final of the UK Cup, Kilmarnock awaiting the winners in the national final to be played in Leeds later this month.  The game kicks off at 2pm at the Edinburgh Academy ground in Inverleith.  While the Hibs fans' side defend their trophy, the same is true for the seniors who will play in the 5-a-side tournament in Glasgow this weekend.  Paul Kane will lead the side as they defend the title they won at the first attempt last year, the tournament will once again be screened live by Sky Television.