Hibs transfers: No firm bids for Ryan Porteous and Josh Doig as Millwall and Sunderland circle

Jack Ross says that he has been put under no pressure to sell his young defenders following reports that both Ryan Porteous and Josh Doig have been linked with bids from English sides.

Josh Doig (left) and Ryan Porteous are both attracting transfer interest from English clubs. Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group

Despite Championship side Millwall showing interest in both young Scots and League One Sunderland, who were linked with striker Kevin Nisbet earlier in the month, also keen on Doig, with just a few days of the current transfer window left, Hibs say there have been no concrete bids.

Both players emerged from the Hibs academy and have been key players for Ross this term.

Central defender Porteous made his breakthrough under Neil Lennon, in 2017 but has grown in stature, bouncing back from a knee injury that brought last season to a premature halt, and becoming an ever present for the Leith side in the Premiership this term.

Doig is currently enjoying his debut season at first team level but the 18-year-old left-back has shown a maturity well beyond his years.

Which is why their gaffer is not surprised to know they are attracting suitors from south of the border. But he says that even if bids do come in, there is no guarantee they will be accepted.

‘We’ve had young players who have performed well this season and there have been notes of interest from clubs. As it stands there has been nothing as of today that would see any of those young players depart. But we will see what happens in the days that are left in the window.

“I’m loath to say with certainty that nothing will ever happen because it could change. But not at the moment. They are where they are.

“There’s no duress we are put under to sell players. But there will always be potentially the right time and the right situation for players to move on, if it makes business sense for the club and the player’s development. I’m okay about that. The lines of communication are good.

“You always have to have a list of potential players that we could bring to the club in any eventuality. You need to have that contingency because it’s a fairly predictable industry.”

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