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Hibs transfer Q&A - Ins, outs, wishing for a Russell Latapy type and the manager's future on fan agenda Supporters crave new faces - including snapping up stars from a couple of SPFL rivals - but how realistic are those ambitions? Hibs have already made five signings this summer, with David Gray getting the bulk of his business done nice and early. But the fact that he’s added bodies in defence, midfield and attack doesn’t stop fans from wondering – and wishing – about what happens next. We opened up the forum to Hibs supporters to ask questions about the prospects of their team getting more talent in the building – and potentially off-loading some players unlikely to get game time. Among the inevitable flurry of inquiries/demands about the manager’s future, there were queries about specific targets – and requests for general clarification on some areas of the park. New No. 9 in the building Where does David Gray stand at Hibs currently amid some grumblings from some sections of the crowd? “All managers are under pressure all the time, some a lot more than other. I think all Scottish managers in particular are under pressure. “Jens Berthel Askou created a bit of a stir last year, probably did for everyone, put everyone under pressure with what he did. So there will inevitably be grumblings. “There’s also a shelf life for managers and that's nothing to do with how good they are, how bad they are. People get bored. “I’ve not heard anything dramatic to suggest anything's going to happen one way or the other. But it’s just common sense, isn't it? “Getting through these European ties - or at least this next one - and picking up a couple of domestic wins would ease the pressure. Losing them puts you under more pressure.” UEFA Conference League draw changes picture How many could still come into the squad? “That’s made maybe a little bit more straightforward by today's European draw. I mean, Hibs still have to get past Shkendija, which I don't think will be even remotely easy given that they reached the knockout stages of this competition – and then you have to get past Gothenburg or Gent. “But it's not as if they've been hit with a Brighton or a Monaco. If that happens, you're throwing up your hands, effectively, and saying: ‘Well, we're not getting to the league phases …’ “So now there is a chance of getting to the league phases. Do you gamble and bring in another two players who will get you to those league phases, which is worth five million quid maybe, which is not to be sniffed at? Or do you hold fire? “I still think there's definitely room for bringing players in even though they've brought five in. And there's potential for players going out as well, which may also be impacted by the prospect of European progress.” Do Hibs need an Edwards, Latapy, Allan-type player in midfield? “Of course! You would love a Russell Latapy in any team. “I think in this era, in this team, Jamie McGrath is as close as you're getting. He's an outstanding creative footballer and you forget he's been missing. “That's necessitated a change at the top end of the park completely because Callum Wright has also been missing . He was brought in almost as another Jamie McGrath, a number 10, so David Gray had to change the top end of the park without a natural player fitting there. Fingers crossed, McGrath is back for Thursday night. “You forget what he did last year against Midtjylland and in a lot of the big domestic games when he played in that area; he's such a clever footballer. I'm not sure that's a pressing need if you're holding on to Jamie McGrath and he's fit.” Could Hibs afford to bid for Tannadice ace? Can Hibs get Will Ferry, giving Dundee United £2 million from Bowie and previous sales? “I mean, yeah, Will Ferry's probably one of the most sought after and interesting players who you would consider to be ‘available’, if you want to put it that way. A left back, so you’re talking about playing in a four, which Hibs did the other day. “I don't see it as necessarily a bad idea. It depends if Nicky Cadden is fit. I certainly wouldn't dissuade you from that. Whether it's possible or not, that's always the devil in the detail.” Do we need a replacement for Thibault Klidje? “If he's going, yeah, you definitely need another striker in there.” Why spend over a million on a player and never play him? “To borrow a phrase of an old coaching pal of mine, Thibault Klidje is built like a cheese slice. He’s really on the slight side of slender in terms of the physical aspect of Scottish Premiership football. “I think if you watch him closely, he's got a lot of supporters, a lot of fans who want to see more of him, and you can definitely see why Hibs bought him, why they signed him. The price tag's neither here nor there, that just is beyond your control as a player. “Whether he's going to be the right fit for this league and this team is another question and I think you may see him get a few more chances. Certainly when you speak to David Gray, he doesn't dismiss the idea. Summer signings so far | Nathan Lowe | Striker | | Callum Wright | Attacking midfielder | | Jason Kerr | Central defender | | Adam Mayor | Wingback/fullback/winger | | Azeem Abdulai | Central midfielder | “He actually volunteered him as an option the other day when I was chatting to him about the forward options. He was talking about how in No. 9 role they've got Nathan Lowe in because he's this big physical guy they've not had since Kieron Bowie. “But he also said that Klidje can almost play it in a Dwight Gayle style, make himself a big target just with his pace and his running. You can be small but be a big target because you've got a good touch, you can get in behind. “So listen, I wouldn't dismiss the idea of him featuring at some point. It's just when you look at how he's been bounced around in some of the games and the fact that he went on loan last year, who knows what his future is going to be? Do Hibs need to move on a couple of players? “I think everyone would agree on that. If you want to improve as a team at any level of football, you're getting rid of good players, good professionals, even really good servants to the club. That's just naturally part of it because you're having to upgrade in key areas. “I think Hibs has been trying to get rid of Alasana Manneh for about a year, I would think, so that wouldn't be a surprise. And Joe Newell will admit it himself, he's playing for game time, playing for his future in the last year of his contract, is he going to make a big contribution in that centre of the park? “A few other players, Klidje, and there's Chris Cadden already away. I think that's probably your example, isn't it? “Chris Cadden, good enough to go straight into that Aberdeen team at the weekend, not getting any game time at Hibs because Felix Passlack has been one of the better January signings. So if you're upgrading, yeah, necessarily guys will not get game time and want to move on.” Could there be another couple of strong midfielders, like Killian Phillips at St Mirren? “If you look at central midfield at the moment, you have Miguel Chaiwa, Josh Mulligan, Azeem Abdulai, Jamie McGrath, Callum Wright, then say maybe Josh Campbell and Rudi Molotnikov. So that’s six or seven guys for three – or maybe just two – positions depending on your formation. “So they've got quite a lot of bodies in there. Whether you move some of those on, change that up. “Killian Phillips, he's been linked with MLS teams, hasn't he? And that didn't used to be a big competition, but it is now. We saw what happened with Nectar Triantis last year. Or he looks like he could move to an English team. “He’s a big, physical attacking threat. I'm not 100 per cent sold on him. I think he'll do very well there – but I don't think he's a massive upgrade on what Hibs have got. That's a personal opinion.” A forward who can lead the line? “I saw that question, and Nathan Lowe's already there. Right or wrong, you've signed him. He certainly looks physical enough. “We'd love to see him score some more goals and take some of these chances. I think he's your line leader at the moment. “I think you could probably push Owen Elding in there at a stretch if you needed to as well. And as I mentioned before, I've seen Klidje fill that position. It depends what you do with your formation as well.” Pace on the wings? “Yeah, that's another one that comes back to formation, doesn't it? Again, there was almost like a 4-2-3-1 against Motherwell, which again requires a bit of width. “I don't think Adam Mayor's going to do it for you there. I don't think he's gone past anyone with just sheer pace, just dropping the shoulder and going beyond them. So I don't think he's going to do that. “You could play Boyle on one side. A lot will depend on Nicky Caddon being fully fit again on the left, and then could you play Passlack out there because he was a winger and started as a winger, and maybe in the Scottish game he's good enough? “If there's someone brilliant out there that you think: ‘Oh my God, he's going to rip up the Scottish Premiership …’ Yeah, you go and get him. And if that's a winger, that's a winger. “There's a certain level of player, it almost doesn't matter what position it is. Is he really available? Let's go get him. So I think that's what that will come down to."