Hibernian head coach David Gray insists work is ongoing to beef up the club's attacking options - and he hopes to have movement in 'days rather than weeks', with the Scottish Premiership campaign starting on Sunday with a trip to St Mirren. 

The Easter Road side are light up top, with just one out-and-out centre-forward in Dylan Vente, and have been linked with Fulham forward Kieron Bowie, ex-Aberdeen winger Junior Hoilett, and former loanee Mykola Kukharevych, who scored five goals in 15 appearances on loan from French side Troyes during the 2022/23 campaign. 

Asked how the recruitment search has been impacted by Hibs' position in Bournemouth owner Bill Foley's Black Knight group, Gray remained coy over the organisation's input to transfer activity. 

"Conversations are happening all the time but it's about trying to get the right people in the building. We've mentioned that a lot in the last few weeks. We know we need to bring players in; naturally there are going to be ins and outs in the transfer window. Yes, we need to do it quickly but at the same time, it needs to be the right people," he told Sky Sports. 

Kukharevych was brought in during Lee Johnson's tenure, when Gray was a first-team coach, so the former Hibs captain is only too aware of the Ukrainian striker's strengths and weaknesses.

"I've worked with Mykola before, but he's a Swansea City player at the moment so it's not for me to comment on anyone who's not contracted to Hibs," he continued.

"And Junior did very well at Aberdeen; I think he had a very good season. He was a big part of their success towards the back end of the campaign, went away on international duty, and picked up a little injury that's set him back a little bit but he's a player who has done very well at the level, he's very experienced, and had a fantastic career so far and I'm sure that will continue."

Vente netted a hat-trick in Hibs' opening Premier Sports Cup group game against Elgin City as the visitors won 5-0 at Borough Briggs, but hasn't found the net since and passed up a handful of chances during the 1-0 defeat by Kelty Hearts. But Gray believes competition for places can help eke out more from the Dutchman, who has already spoken about a difficult debut season in Scotland. 

"I would be more concerned if he wasn't getting the chances," the Easter Road head coach added. 

"That's something that's really pleased us in pre-season - he's had a lot of chances in games. He knows himself that he's maybe not put it in the net when he feels he probably should have but I'm delighted he's getting into those positions to be able to miss them. I think he also needs competition. I've made that clear in the last five or six weeks and everybody is well aware that we need strength and depth in the forward areas.

"Everybody needs competition for places, but there are conversations that are happening every day, we are working very hard to do it, and hopefully it can be rectified in days rather than weeks."