Most expensive Hibs XI: Two current stars join the ranks of flops and legends in the pricey Easter Road club

The approval of Bill Foley’s minority investment has ignited a sense of optimism among supporters in Leith. The billionaire owner of Bournemouth has decided to inject some of his funds into Easter Road, prompting speculation among fans about how much of it will be allocated to manager Nick Montgomery.

With loan players such as Myziane Maolida and Emiliano Marcondes making significant contributions, fans are hopeful that part of the financial boost will be directed towards extending their stays at the club. However, Montgomery remains fully focused on the ongoing pursuit of a top-six finish in the Premiership.

Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, fans are eager to see how Montgomery will utilize the resources available to him. Reflecting on the club’s history, the Edinburgh Evening News has explored what a potentially expensive Hibs starting XI might look like. Adhering to a 4-4-2 formation and considering all available information, the only restriction is that a player cannot be deployed in a position significantly different from their usual role.

1. Goalkeeper: Andy Goram (Transferred for £325,000)
Andy Goram served as the primary goalkeeper at Easter Road before making a move to Rangers in 1991. He had initially joined Hibs from Oldham for a six-figure sum four years prior.

2. Right-back: Andy Millen (Transferred for £300,000)
Hibs made a significant effort to acquire Andy Millen, leading to the departure of Billy Findlay to Kilmarnock in exchange. Millen spent two years at Hibs, making an impact as a defender.

3. Center-back: Ulises De La Cruz (Transferred for £700,000)
Ulises De La Cruz set a transfer record with his move to Hibs during the Alex McLeish era. Despite his substantial transfer fee, he scored two goals during his sole season at Hibs before departing for Aston Villa.

4. Center-back: Martin McIntosh (Transferred for £339,000)
Martin McIntosh’s transfer fee was considered significant at the time of his arrival in 2000. However, his time at Hibs was marred by injury and competition for places, resulting in limited appearances. He later joined Rotherham United on loan and eventually transferred permanently for £125,000.

5. Left-back: Alen Orman (Transferred for £100,000)
Alen Orman, an Austrian defender, enjoyed a four-year tenure at Hibs, accumulating over 80 appearances. He arrived at Easter Road after spells at Admira Wacker and Royal Antwerp. With limited options for high transfer fees in defense and a lack of comprehensive information on other candidates, Orman is selected to fill the left-back position.

6. Right midfielder: Elie Youan (Transferred for £500,000)
Elie Youan, a current attacking talent, was acquired for a substantial fee when he made his permanent move from St Gallen. With his promising abilities, Youan has the potential to bring profit to Hibs if he can maintain consistency.

7. Central midfielder: Kyle Magennis (Transferred for £250,000 or more)
Kyle Magennis, now playing for Kilmarnock, experienced injury setbacks during his time at Easter Road before departing last summer. He was signed during the Jack Ross era for a fee reportedly exceeding a quarter of a million pounds.

8. Central midfielder: Kevin Nicol (Transferred for £360,000)
Kevin Nicol made the transition to Hibs from Raith Rovers, with a six-figure fee reported for his acquisition. However, he made only 19 league appearances across three seasons and eventually departed for Peterhead after a loan spell at Norwegian side Stromsgodset.

9. Left midfielder: Pat McGinlay (Transferred for £420,000)
Pat McGinlay commanded a significant fee back in 1994. He was part of the League Cup-winning squad in 1991 before departing for his first time. McGinlay spent a total of 12 years at Hibs across two stints, with intervals at Celtic and Ayr United. For our squad purposes, he is positioned on the left flank.

10. Striker: Dylan Vente (Transferred for £700,000)
Dylan Vente made a notable impact with Lee Johnson’s summer signing, reportedly fetching a significant fee that rivals the acquisition cost of our Ecuadorian defender. Vente’s arrival last summer marked a substantial investment by Hibs.

11. Striker: Anthony Stokes (Transferred for £500,000)
Anthony Stokes had three spells at Hibs, with his initial arrival under John Hughes reportedly involving a fee of half a million pounds, as suggested by reports in England. He joined from Sunderland.