In-demand Hibs star targeted by EPL duo as Rangers handed potential boost ahead of Ibrox clash
Transfer interest is mounting in the Hibs midfielder ahead of the January transfer window opening.
Hibs are bracing themselves for a January battle to keep star midfielder Josh Mulligan, as two English Premier League clubs set their sights on the Easter Road talent.
The versatile 23-year-old has been in impressive form since joining Hibs from Dundee in the summer, earning a maiden call-up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifier at home to Belarus in October, and his performances have not gone unnoticed across the border.
According to reports in England, both Nottingham Forest and Leeds United have already made initial enquiries for the young midfielder, with both top-flight outfits considering a January move for the player. It is claimed that Forest manager Sean Dyche holds the strongest in the Easter Road starlet, who was named man of the match in their 3-0 weekend win over Falkirk.
Mulligan was praised for his all action display by head coach David Gray in the aftermath of the game, with the Hibs boss saying: “I don’t like singling people out, But for what I asked the players to do at the start of the game and trying to get on the front foot, I think Josh Mulligan certainly led by example on that front. I thought he was outstanding actually in the first half.”
Joining the club for a compensation fee in the summer, Mulligan agreed a four-year contract when he signed from Dundee, and has flourished in a central midfield position, where he has become a mainstay for Hibs, having scored one goal and assisted a further three in the Scottish Premiership so far this season.
However, according to the Edinburgh Evening News, the club are yet to formally receive an enquiry from either English Premier League club, with Hibs expected to be reluctant to lose such a key player just six months after he arrived at the club. As per the report, only a ‘serious’ transfer fee is likely to be considered.
Meanwhile, Rangers could be handed an unexpected boost ahead of their clash with Hibs at Ibrox, after it emerged that head coach Danny Rohl may yet have centre-back Nasser Djiga available for selection, despite the centre-half being called up by Burkina Faso for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The two sides face each other in the Scottish Premiership on Monday evening, and Djiga was expected to be absent after being named in Brama Traore’s squad for the tournament earlier this week. Mohamed Diomande is another likely to be ruled out after he was included in the Ivory Coast squad for the competition.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee is required to be released to his nation by Rangers on December 15, the same day they entertain Hibs in Govan. However, German head coach Rohl is hoping an arrangement can be made that allows Djiga to play in the game before he jets off to represent his country.
“We have to check,” said Rohl. “Normally you have the rules and you cannot negotiate the rules. That means you have to be there seven days before the tournament starts. We will see what happens."
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