Hull City are reportedly ready to make an offer to sign Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous, who is believed to be a target for both Rangers and fellow Championship side Sunderland.
According to the Scottish Sun, the Tigers are to make an opening bid to sign the 23-year-old centre-back ahead of the January transfer window, with Porteous being chased by numerous English clubs as well as Rangers, as well as Serie A side Udinese.
Porteous is regarded by many as one of the best defenders in the Scottish Premiership and a talent who has the potential to become a quality player for a top club, though Hibernian currently risk losing the centre-back for free at the end of the season.
The Hibs star’s contract is due to expire in the summer, and as a result, January interest has been rampant in Porteous, with Hull now set to make an offer to sign the defender with Rangers and Sunderland yet to make such moves for the defender.
And much to the dismay of Rangers, in particular, Porteous himself has said he is open to leaving Scotland, with the defender saying as per the Scottish Sun: “I do like the idea of moving to a different league and testing myself there. “I’m open to ideas, now it’s trying to figure out the one that’s best suited for me.”
Indeed, Hull’s offer for Porteous is the clearest sign yet that the defender could be heading south to England. And for Rangers and Sunderland, neither side can afford to miss out on the Hibernian titan in the January transfer window.
Hull signing Porteous ahead of Rangers and Sunderland will be a surprise
Sitting 21st in the Championship standings, Porteous heading to Hull would be quite the surprise given how good the defender has been in recent years for Hibs as well as the quality of clubs currently interested in the Scottish defender.
And for the likes of Rangers and Sunderland, missing out on Porteous to Hull should be seen as a missed opportunity for the British clubs, especially given how big their draw is compared to the Tigers, who are one of the favourites to go down from the Championship this season.
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