BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
HIBS are considering a swoop for Switzerland under-21 internationalist Florian Kamberi on loan from Grasshoppers Zurich.
The towering striker has been training with the capital club since Monday and is understood to have made a positive impression on head coach Neil Lennon, who is keen to sign a target man this month.
A deal has not yet been completed, however it is likely Hibs will steps up talks with the Swiss outfit in the next 48 hours with a view to extending the trial until next week.
The 22-year-old, who enjoyed a loan spell at Bundesliga 2. side Karlsruher SC last term, has also been attracting interest from Germany and Austria and was on the radar of Derek Adams’ Plymouth at the start of the season. However, Easter Road is his preferred destination.
Ex-Celtic and Dundee midfielder Mark Fotheringham was Kamberi’s assistant manager at Karlsruher and is the man who recommended the player to Lennon – and he believes the switch would be right move for all parties.
Fotheringham, currently coaching at Cowdenbeath, said: “I’ve told Flo that Hibs is a great platform for him and Neil Lennon being there is a huge factor. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and is a demanding coach.
“He will make Flo a better player and I could see him kicking on to a really high level.
“He’s a brilliant talent. He was a bit unlucky with injuries when we worked together at Karlsruher, but this is a player who got man of the match against Stuttgart in front of 35,000 fans, so there is plenty of potential there and I think he would show that at Hibs.
“He’ll not be short of options, but I know he is already loving the standard of coaching and quality of players at Hibs, so I hope it gets over the line.”
Kamberi, who boasts one goal in four appearances for Switzerland’s under-21 side, has found the net six times since emerging through the youth ranks at Grasshoppers. He scored once in 15 outings during his loan stint at Karlsruher.
Hibs have already signed Jamie Maclaren, Scott Bain and Faycal Rherras this month, however attacking reinforcements remain a priority with doubt surrounding the future of Anthony Stokes and Deivydas Matulevicius having been told he is free to find a new club.
