Why Hibs have loaned out Elias Melkersen to Sparta Rotterdam as buy clause revealed

Hibs manager Lee Johnson believes Elias Melkersen needs first-team football to fulfil his potential after signing off on the Norwegian striker’s loan move to Sparta Rotterdam.

Hibs forward Elias Melkersen will spend the second half of the season on loan at Sparta Rotterdam.

The Edinburgh outfit spent a six-figure fee a year ago when purchasing the Norwegian from Bodo/Glimt in his homeland, but he has only scored three first-team goals – all in cup ties – and has found regular starts limited under current manager Johnson. With Hibs desperate to reduce their squad during this transfer window, fringe players have been moved on Melkersen joins Kevin Dabrowski Jack Brydon, Nohan Kenneh, Joao Balde, Stephen Bradley and Momodou Bojang in exiting the club this month. The 20-year-old has joined the Eredivisie outfit in the Netherlands for the rest of the season, with Hibs revealing that the Dutch club have an option to buy for a seven-figure fee.

“Elias is a player that has all the attributes to be a top number nine,” said Johnson. “Given the return of Kevin Nisbet, we believe now is the time for Elias to get regular starts to implement all the hard work he’s put into training. In Sparta Rotterdam, he has a club and therefore a vehicle to get regular starts to showcase his talents.”

Further departures are anticipated at Hibs before the winter transfer window closes, with left wing-back Demetri Mitchell and central midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes subject of interest from English-based teams. Defender Ryan Porteous, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is wanted by a number of clubs both in England and abroad, with Blackburn, Oostende, Toulouse and Bologna all weighing up moves for the Scotland internationalist.