Hibs are bracing themselves for an improved Birmingham City bid for star striker Kevin Nisbet, but it’s not quite the no-brainer it might look on the balance sheet.
The Championship outfit have already completed a £2million deal for Aberdeen’s Sam Cosgrove and want Nisbet to join him at St Andrews as they reshape their attack.
Aberdeen had already been stung by rejecting a similar offer for the burly striker from Holland, only for him to be ruled out with a serious injury days later.
With Dave Cormack pleading poverty at Pittodrie, the money on offer from The Blues was too good to turn down on this occasion.
Hibs aren’t without their financial challenges and owner Ron Gordon has admitted that they face a reduction in revenue this season of up to 50 per cent.
So on the face of it, the temptation to take Birmingham’s money and run is understandable.
But patience may pay off for the Hibees and Nisbet if they play the long game.
Nisbet arrived at Easter Road in the summer for £250,000 from Dunfermline - a not insignificant sum in the context of Scottish football.
A chance to make ten times your initial investment just six months later, in the midst of a financial squeeze due to the Covid pandemic, is almost too good to turn down.
Almost.
First and foremost, Nisbet is Hibs top scorer and from a purely footballing perspective, of course Jack Ross wants to keep him.
He’s in no rush to leave and isn’t about to try and push through a move.
The 23-year-old has bagged 13 goals and five assists in 29 appearances, two of those strikes coming in draws with Celtic.
That rate of scoring could see Hibs end up in the European places come the summer.
It is then, should his form keep up, that Nisbet is at his maximum value as far as Hibs are concerned.
He’d have a full season of top flight football under his belt with three full years still left on his contract.
Hopefully, there’s the prospect of fans being allowed back into stadiums on the horizon and clubs can start to breathe a little easier.
There’s also the chance for Nisbet to attract other suitors, potentially further up the food chain the Birmingham City.
Of course, there's always the risk of injury and loss of form that means future offers aren't guaranteed.
Crucially though, Hibs would have ample time to find a replacement.
As things stand, Nisbet is the main man with Chris Doidge flitting between partner and back up, with young Jamie Gullan the understudy, despite not being an out and out striker.
It’s understood Hibs are in the market for one anyway, and they’ll need two if Nisbet is sold.
Furthermore, they’d then be looking for one just as the window is closing with clubs well aware they’ll have a couple of million burning a hole in their pocket.
Not a strong bargaining position.
There will be a price point that the club simply can’t turn down, although exactly what that is and whether Birmingham will be prepared to meet it remains to be seen.
And unless they do, it seems both Nisbet and Hibs will be better served by him staying put.
