Hibernian are set to lose key defender Warren O'Hora to Leicester City as the Scottish transfer window enters its final hours. The Foxes are putting the finishing touches to a six-figure deal for the centre-back, a move confirmed by Leicester manager Russell Martin on Tuesday.
This news, reported by The Scotsman, comes with Hibs sitting fifth in the Premiership, having taken six points from their opening three games. They are three points behind leaders Celtic and face a crucial away derby against third-placed Heart of Midlothian on December 27th. The club has scored five goals and conceded four so far this season.
What does Warren O'Hora's departure mean for Hibs?
O'Hora's imminent exit creates an immediate hole in the Hibs defence that the club must fill before the 5pm deadline on Thursday. Easter Road chiefs are already working on identifying and securing a replacement, recognising the urgency of the situation. Manager Russell Martin stated he expected O'Hora to be at training on Wednesday morning, but the player's move to the English side appears to be progressing rapidly.
The loss is a significant one for a Hibs side that has started the league campaign with two wins and a loss. Defensive solidity will be important for their ambitions this term, and you can track the team's progress on our standings page. Finding a suitable player of similar quality in such a short timeframe represents a major challenge for the recruitment team.
How does this affect the wider Premiership transfer window?
While Hibs deal with a key departure, their rivals have been active in the market. Celtic continued their transfer spree by signing 24-year-old midfielder Oliver Sorensen on loan from Parma. Sorensen made 37 appearances for the Italian club after joining from Midtjylland last August. Celtic are also in talks with Chelsea over a loan for Landon Emenalo and have been linked with moves for Jordan Lotomba, Gvidas Gineitis, and young striker Shim Mheuka.
Rangers, meanwhile, are working to finalise a £9 million deal for Portland Timbers striker Kevin Kelsy. Manager Derek McInnes indicated this would likely be their last signing of the window. "We’re still working hard to get one in at the minute, we’re getting closer on that one, but we believe it’s only going to be the one in," McInnes said. He added, "If we can get a striker in that helps alleviate the disappointment of Youssef’s injury, I think that would be pretty important for us."
What other business happened on Tuesday?
Several other moves involving Scottish clubs were confirmed. Lyall Cameron joined Dundee United on loan for the rest of the season, while Connor Barron moved to Middlesbrough on a temporary deal. Celtic saw two players depart, with Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate joining Burnley and Irish striker Johnny Kenny moving to Preston North End.
At Rangers, midfielder Nicolas Raskin has been absent for the team's two most recent matches. McInnes praised the Belgian's attitude, stating, "Nico’s been first-class since he came back from the World Cup, he’s been good as gold, he’s trained brilliantly." The manager confirmed no bids have arrived that pique the club's interest in selling him.
Where does Hibs' focus turn now?
With O'Hora's transfer all but complete, the immediate priority at Easter Road is securing a defensive reinforcement. The clock is ticking towards Thursday's 5pm deadline, leaving little room for negotiation or error. The club's recruitment staff face a busy 48 hours as they work to mitigate the impact of losing a first-team regular.
Hibs' next challenge is a massive one, an away trip to face city rivals Hearts at Tynecastle. That match, scheduled for December 27th, will be a key test for the squad. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page. The team's recent form shows wins followed by a loss, indicating the need for consistency as they prepare for the derby atmosphere.
