Hibernian are hopeful of sealing a season-long loan move for Celtic midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu. The 23-year-old  caught the eye during Celtic's 4-3 victory over Manchester City in pre-season, putting in an impressive showing during a 25-minute substitute appearance and teeing up Luis Palma for the winner, but hasn't made the matchday squad for either of the club's Scottish Premiership fixtures so far and will likely be allowed to leave on loan. 

David Gray is still working on fine-tuning his squad and consecutive defeats at the hands of St Mirren and Celtic, and has already brought in eight new signings since the start of the summer transfer window. But the Easter Road midfield is still the team's weak spot and two different combinations in the opening two games of the campaign have done little to dispel the notion that the engine room needs serious surgery if Hibs are to improve on last season's showing. 

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Nohan Kenneh, who was brought in by Lee Johnson and played as a defensive midfielder in the early part of the 2022/23 campaign before being sent on loan to Ross County and then Shrewsbury Town last season, has not made either of Hibs' matchday squads so far and was an unused sub for two of the side's four Premier Sports Cup group games while Jake Doyle-Hayes hasn't been involved either since a 45-minute appearance against Edinburgh City in a pre-season friendly at Meadowbank. 

Kwon, capped 13 times by South Korea at under-23 level, hasn't made a senior competitive appearance for Celtic since joining from K League 2 side Busan IPark in July 2023 but did have nine outings for St Mirren on loan in the second half of last season. 

The 6ft 4in Kwon usually played as the left-sided central midfielder in a four for the Buddies, but can also play as one half of the double pivot in a 4231, which Gray has chosen in both Premiership fixtures so far. A hamstring injury curtailed his 2023/24 campaign but he did enough in a St Mirren shirt to have manager Stephen Robinson singing his praises and opening talks with Celtic chiefs over an extended loan spell in Paisley. 

Speaking after his move to Celtic, Kwon said: "I am the type of player who can press hard and put pressure on the opponent. I am very good at intercepting balls and building up the process and giving the ball to attacking players."

Hibs remain interested in Dundee captain Luke McCowan, having had two bids rejected by Dens Park chiefs, and are hopeful of adding further reinforcements at centre-back as well. There are also expected to be further departures from Easter Road as work continues on trimming down a bloated senior squad.