Shaun Maloney has revealed he's already been out meeting Hibs transfer targets personally.
The Easter Road boss is preparing for a first summer window in charge after he replaced Jack Ross back in December.
Maloney insists he wants to get a feel for a player's character and whether he fits the club's "values".
And he's been busy as he prepares to put a further stamp on the squad having already begun in the January window.
“I always try to meet the player. That's happened recently for next season,” Maloney said at an event for Hibs season ticket holders.
“I have to find out what he's like as a character and whether he fits the values of this club which were in place many, many years before I arrived. If I don't feel the player has those values, then I don't sign them, but I have to get face-to-face with the player to work that out.
"It's difficult. Sometimes it's been on Zoom, and that's not really what I want but now hopefully we are able to meet face to face.”
Maloney works alongside CEO Ben Kensell and recruitment chief Ian Gordon but has the final say on any signings made.
And he outlined the qualities he's looking for in the weeks and months ahead, with a particular focus on the forward areas following the loss of Martin Boyle.
"Certainly we can strengthen in the forward areas. There are lots of things we do well – getting into the opposition box and the final third a lot but it’s during those moments that we need to be better and that’s where we need to recruit.
"We need to do as much as we can in terms of coaching but we need speed, and we need individuals who have that explosive pace so that when they go one-v-one with another player they can really hurt them.
"That’s what we're trying to recruit in the summer because I don't want to have however many passes and however much possession in a game and not have as many shots and chances.
"When we get that right then we're going to be a very, very good team.”
