Kieron Bowie set to net Hibs club record fee as transfer details emerge for Serie A move

The Scotsman understands the Serie A club have returned with an improved offer for the Scotland striker which could land Hibs a club record £7million transfer fee once add-ons are included.

Bowie, who joined from Fulham for £600,000 18 months ago, has scored nine goals this term. His form has attracted significant interest with Celtic, Rangers, Wolves and a number of European clubs also linked.

While Gray has no desire to lose such a key player, he stressed that if Bowie does move on before the window closes on Monday, as now seems likely, Hibs will be ready to bring in reinforcements.

“There has been a lot of interest,” Gray confirmed at a press conference yesterday afternoon. “With the window being open, there’s speculation around Kieron. There has been a few bids.

“I can’t look at it from a selfish point of view at all, for what helps David Gray, not at all. It’s what’s right for Hibernian. If Kieron was to move on, and it was right for everybody involved, it’s about how you react from that.

“That’s the beauty of the window. You need to be proactive. We are working hard to see, making sure that if we did lose someone like Kieron, that we can try and bring in a replacement.”

Bowie, if he agrees to the move, will become the seventh Scot currently playing his trade in the Italian top flight alongside Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour (both Napoli), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Che Adams (Torino) and Josh Doig (Sassuolo).

Verona are currently in the Serie A relegation zone - four points from safety - but have identified Bowie as a player who can help keep them up and potentially earn them a larger transfer fee in the future.

Bowie is hoping to secure a place in the Scotland World Cup squad this summer and national head coach Steve Clarke will be watching developments with interest.

Hibs also announced their first two signings of the window yesterday with two 19-year-old prospects joining the Easter Road club.

Striker Owen Elding signed from Sligo Rovers on a contract until the summer of 2030 while midfielder Kai Andrews arrived on loan from English Championship side Coventry for the rest of the season.

Hibs claimed to have staved off competition from several European clubs to secure the signature of Elding, who scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 38 matches for the League of Ireland Premier Division side across the 2025 season.

“I think his record speaks for itself, he’s such a young boy but he’s played a lot of men’s football already at a good level and scored a variety of goals,” said Gray.

“He’s a really exciting one for the football club. In terms of the expectation, you don’t want to put too much pressure on him, he’s only 19, but I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to getting involved as quick as he can.”

Andrews, a Wales international, spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Motherwell.

Gray added: “We’re excited to bring Kai into the building and add extra strength in depth to our midfield options.

“We felt it was important that we brought in another combative and athletic presence in the middle of the pitch.

“Having watched him play at Motherwell last season, I know he understands the demands of the league – and we are all excited to work with him.”