Dundee United to launch new bid for Scott Allan

Scott Allan was voted the Championships player of the year last season. Picture: SNS

He is set to test Hibs’ resolve to hold on to the midfielder who was voted the Championship’s player of the year last season by his fellow pros.

Allan, 23, has gone public on his intention to see out his contract at Easter Road which has another season to run. This followed a summer of speculation which has seen him linked with a move to both Rangers and Celtic. United are also keen on the midfielder, however. They were rebuffed when they tried to tempt Hibs with a £250,000 bid on deadline day during the January transfer window.

They are now expected to submit a new bid. Following the departure of Gary Mackay-Steven, Gary Armstrong and Nadir Ciftci to Celtic since the turn of the year, United chairman Steven Thompson has given McNamara the green light to spend money on revamping his depleted United squad.

Allan left United for West Bromwich Albion three years ago after a fall-out with the then manager Peter Houston.

But he was lured back to Scotland last summer and was a stand-out in Alan Stubbs’ Hibs side.

Speaking last week, Allan underlined his contentment at Hibs. He said: “I feel as if Alan Stubbs has already got some of the best out of me last season but I think he is the man who can improve me again. I’ve enjoyed my time here, it’s the happiest I have been.”

The out-of-contract St Mirren midfielder John McGinn has also been targeted by United, with a £150,000 compensation bid in the pipeline for the highly rated 20-year-old who has been impressing Owen Coyle in training with MLS side Houston Dynamo.

And Wigan Athletic’s former Inverness Caley Thistle striker Billy Mckay is still on the United radar as they seek to fill the void left by Ciftci.