Last season, Hibs’ midfield was a key reason for them finishing fourth under Neil Lennon as a newly-promoted Premiership outfit.
Rangers appear to have many a central midfielder within their ranks, possibly too many. According to the Scottish Sun, Hibs are interested in one of them, as they consider a summer move for Greg Docherty should he be made available.
Docherty is developing dramatically
Docherty is currently on loan at Shrewsbury Town, having slid down the pecking order since Steven Gerrard’s arrival at Rangers. A tremendous central midfield player himself in his day, rather than opt to sell the 22-year-old, he loaned him to the Shrews.
Docherty’s been a revelation for Sam Ricketts’ side. (Photo by Alan Hayward/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Callum McGregor had a similar loan spell with Notts County earlier in his career. Now he’s been named as arch-rivals Celtic’s Player of the Year. There’s also an argument that Hibs’ midfield has missed a certain something since the trio of John McGinn, Dylan McGeouch and the soon-to-return Scott Allan left the club.
Hibs are looking to fill a hole
Docherty’s game has come on leaps and bounds in England. He has the work rate of a John McGinn and a creative element that is at least on a par with the likes of McGeouch and Allan. Double figures in goals and assists is a welcome addition to any side from a midfielder and Docherty looks like he would excel back up in Scotland.
Docherty even scored against Premier League new boys and surprise package Wolverhampton Wanderers at New Meadow in the FA Cup. The visitors eventually lost in the semi-final to Watford. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
It can’t be a coincidence if a former midfield maestro such as your manager still wants to keep you contracted at the club. If there’s English Championship interest, Heckingbottom’s Hibs may find it hard to compete. However, the player himself sees his future in Govan for now.
Difficult to deal with?
It’ll be interesting the stance Rangers decide to take here. Because you doubt they’ll forget the manner in which Hibs went about selling them Scott Allan. They were Championship rivals at the time before they ended up selling Allan to Celtic instead.
Scott Allan was supposedly heading for Ibrox but ended up at Parkhead instead. (Photo by Vagelis Georgariou/ActionPlus/Corbis via Getty Images)
You’d imagine Rangers will want to play hardball having lost out on Docherty’s potential future teammate.