There are plenty of players attracting interest from teams like AC Milan and Leeds United – but Hibs legend and registered agent Jim McArthur believes the current crop of Hibs players should stick around for one more year.
Hibs contest the Scottish Cup final this weekend against St Johnstone as they look to add silverware to their third place Scottish Premiership season. But players haven’t been short of interest ahead of it, left-back Doig linked to AC Milan and Leeds United while Kevin Nisbet has been thought of as a Celtic target.
Ryan Porteous, Martin Boyle and Jackson Irvine have all been linked with transfers too but McArthur – who has worked as an agent for over 30 years – has told NTOF some should stay put: “That’s what happens because you have done well. You do attract big bids.
“There’s talk of Doig and big bids. For me, he should stay at least another year, but it’s his career. I think he has still got a bit to learn. Kevin Nisbet has hardly been at Hibs long and he could be doing with staying another year. Ryan Porteous has stayed that extra year, and maybe needs another one. But these boys will attract interest.
“There’s talk of Jackson Irvine and Aberdeen – fair enough. Then there’s Martin Boyle, on his day he is unplayable, that pace is so frightening. He’s amazing. It can be hard for the manager, Jack Ross, to be keeping all this going. This week especially, you don’t want to talk about players subject to interest.”
McArthur made over 200 appearances for Hibs in his playing career and remarkably kept two clean sheets in the 1979 Scottish Cup final, still not managing to win the cup as the game was lost to Rangers over three games. St Johnstone beat Hibs 3-0 in the League Cup semi-final before winning the tournament in February, now hunting a double.
Hibs are fancied in Mount Florida by their ex-goalkeeper but McArthur knows it’ll be tight: “If St Johnstone win the two cups and finish in the top six, that’s incredible. For Callum Davidson’s first year, incredible. It shows the organisation of the man. They’ve got a strong team throughout, Jason Kerr, Chris Kane up front, and Shaun Rooney.
“He’s great, good at set-pieces. But Hibs have there team, it probably picks itself. Jack’s probably got to pick two of Paul Hanlon, Darren McGregor and Ryan Porteous. The bookies can’t split them. But I feel like Hampden suits Hibs. I know they have lost there, but that first goal will be so important. It’s a true 50-50.”
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