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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Will Lancaster

Hibs in Aberdeen transfer tussle for Dundee United favourite with star 'set to choose' between SPFL duo

Hibs boss Lee Johnson will have to overcome competition from Aberdeen if he is to land Dundee United favourite Jamie McGrath - with his future at Wigan Athletic up in the air.

Hibs have already signed Elie Youan for a fee of around £500,000, whilst veteran striker Adam Le Fondre has also signed on a free transfer from Sydney FC. It's been a summer of outgoings so far for the Edinburgh club, with Darren McGregor, Mikey Devlin and Aidan McGeady departing on free transfers whilst Kevin Nisbet left for Millwall in a £2million deal.

With money in the bank and players to replace, the key turns to recruitment. The club have over £1.5m to spend in transfer profits, whilst wages have been saved. And that, according to Alan Nixon, could be spent on McGrath, with the club set to rival Aberdeen for his signature.

READ MORE: Hearts to face Plymouth Argyle in Spain as Jambos confirm plans for warm-weather pre-season camp

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Any deal would be on a free transfer; Wigan Athletic are desperate to get names off their wage bill over problems paying players. Four separate deductions have taken place this year alone, with the Latics starting next season's EFL League One on minus eight points - not an ideal start for former Hibs boss Shaun Maloney.

McGrath joined Dundee United on loan last season, grabbing an assist in the Conference League win over AZ Alkmaar before the 7-0 trouncing.

McGrath was their second top goalscorer with eight goals in the league, one behind Steven Fletcher - which isn't a bad tally from the wing. On a free transfer and at the age of just 26, he would fit seamlessly into the Hibs side, which would at least offset the loss of Aiden McGeady.

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