Ryan Porteous is expected to leave Hibs this month.

However, it appears that the 23-year-old could hang around until after the club's crunch Scottish Cup tie with Hearts.

Several clubs in the Championship are chasing the signature of the powerful defender.

European clubs are also very keen on the Scotland cap, with the likes of Toulouse and Udinese just a few who are interested.

While it's clear Porteous won't be a Hibs player for much longer, Lee Johnson says the centre-back could still be a Hibee by the time the next Edinburgh derby comes around on Sunday, January 22.

He said: “I honestly don’t think he will go before the Hearts game, based on the information I’ve got at this moment, but I could be wrong.

“I’m not the person at this football club who will decide any transfer fee.

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“Obviously I’ll advise, and I’d rather have Ryan in the team than not. But there are a number of factors, the player, the agent, and the club.

“And that will depend on negotiations and Ryan’s prerogative to sign a pre-contract and stay here — if the club doesn’t accept an offer — and move in the summer.

“Right now he’s available for selection, and we are desperate to follow a good win with another.”

Keen to avoid another similiar scenario, Johnson provided an update on the contract situation of Kevin Nisbet. 

The forward has been in fine form since returning from injury for the Easter Road side.

He added: "We’d love to keep Kevin, that’s no secret. He is a top player who has had his injury issues and the club has looked after him.

“Our ambition is to improve, keep our best players and build around them, but also improve the top players.

“Kevin is still young, he has missed nigh on a whole year of football.

“I had a good chat with him today about not resting on his laurels because we love him, believe in him and think he can go from strength to strength here.”

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