Jack Ross insists he's desperate to get Kevin Nisbet to follow Martin Boyle's lead and sign up to a new Hibs deal.
The Easter Road gaffer reckons it would be huge for the ambition of Hibs if they could get their main striker signed up to a new contract after eight months of him being linked with a move away.
Hibs are currently in negotiations with Nisbet to hand him a new deal amid rumours suggestions Celtic could make a move for him, as well as various English clubs.
Ross' side already turned down Birmingham in January and they've also got Australia international Boyle to reject a move to Aberdeen and extend his stay.
That's great news for Ross who feels it is evidence the club want to keep their best players and they're making Hibs the right place for players to be.
He said: “Hopefully it’s a positive reflection on the club as a whole because you need to be supported by the owner, the board and the club to keep your best players.
“We saw that with Martin and hopefully now with Kevin. From a football point of view, it shows Kevin still views this as a good place to play football and he has made remarkable progress.
“I still think he has the potential to have a top career. But hopefully the season we had last year has helped him believe he is playing at a team competing at the right end of the table and for silverware.
“Another thing that has undoubtedly helped us – and it’s an aspect nobody really talks about – is he’s enjoying it.
“He is deserving of a new contract. The discussions have all been positive to date but nothing has yet been concluded. Hopefully that will be the case soon.”
With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Ross admits he does still want to add players and particularly after injuries have hit his squad.
He expects the club to complete deals before Tuesday night and admits he would be 'really surprised' if it didn't happen.
He added: “I would be really, really surprised and disappointed if we didn’t add to the squad. We’ve worked pretty hard but I want to make sure we bring in ones who can improve us.
“We had the opportunity to sign someone but didn’t want to do it just for the sake of doing it.
“We do still need to add a couple and if we do that, it will enable us to move some out the way who need to go and play.
“But we haven’t been able to do that as yet because of where we are numbers wise with losing some players.
“It’s not always easy. The identification is one thing and the recruitment is another.
“It’s not because you’re not getting support from the club to do it – you need the other club, the players and all these things to fall into place as well.
“But I’m pretty confident of us doing that between now and the window closing.”
