Lee Johnson hasn’t completely given up hope of Ryan Porteous performing a stunning U-turn and staying at Hibs.
The defender has knocked back the offer of a new deal after a decade associated with the club but is set to take his place in the heart of defence for Thursday's trip to face Rangers. Speculation linking the Ibrox club with a move for the Scotland international has been rife during the World Cup break although there’s been no contact.
But Johnson has no qualms about throwing him into the line of fire as the Premiership returns from the World Cup break and insists he’d rather sell him to a club south of the border. Hibs could be tempted to cash in on Porteous next month if the price is right. Stoke City, Millwall, Watford, Norwich and Serie A side Udinese are all understood to be interested in the 23-year-old. But Johnson is not completely resigned to losing the defender.
