Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to beat Everton and Manchester City to the signing of Hibernian goalkeeping prodigy Murray Johnson.
The Easter Road side are already set to be forced into a reshuffle between the sticks this summer with news that senior number one Ofir Marciano has turned down the offer of a new contract.
However Jack Ross will now have to contend with losing rising star Johnson, who is expected to earn the men in green and white a six-figure fee when he completes his move to the Premier League outfit.
The 16-year-old spent time on trial at the Etihad Campus earlier this year after signing his first professional deal with the Leith outfit in January.
Johnson is yet to play a first team game for Hibs, but was called up to train with the first team last summer while still only 15.
The keeper was due to link up with the Scotland under-17 squad for an international double header against England last year, but those matches were aborted due to concerns over a coronavirus outbreak at St George’s Park involving the Tartan Army’s U-19 boss Billy Stark.
Johnson, who stands at 6’2, was also being tracked by Everton among a host of other Premier League sides.
Football Insider reports the Midlands club are likely to win the race, netting Hibs a healthy compensation payment in the process.
Marciano's departure at the end of the season was confirmed by Ross this week, with the Israeli international said to be on the shortlist of Celtic and Hapoel Be'er Sheva in his homeland.
Deputies Matt Macey and Kevin Dabrowski are also out of contract, leaving the Hibs boss with gloves to fill in the transfer window.
Marciano started as Hibs defeated Ross County in Dingwall to move six points clear in third place in the Scottish Premiership.
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