Marcondes and Maolida get Hibs transfer pitch as Nick Montgomery relies on more than cash to persuade duo

Nick Montgomery will pitch Hibs as a permanent transfer destination for loan stars Emiliano Marcondes and Myziane Maolida.

Maolida arrived on loan from Hertha Berlin until the end of the season. A one-time €10million player, he'd lost his way at the German capital club, with boss Pal Dardai branding him the "laziest" player he'd ever worked with - a claim Maolida's agent described as a "baseless attack." Either way, it's safe to say Maolida has no future in Berlin and will be moved on this summer with a year left on his deal.

That he has become Hibs' top scorer in such a short space of time will likely work against them. Maolida will be a more attractive proposition to richer clubs than he was six months ago and Hertha are looking for an outright sale, or a loan that would over a significant portion of the Bundesliga wages the Bundesliga 2 outfit are still paying him. But Montgomery is hoping being happy in the Easter Road environment can trump the financial aspect, however unlikely that may be and especially after a bottom six finish in the Premiership.

“You never say never," he told the Edinburgh Evening News. "I’ve got a really good relationship with Myz, who is a fantastic human being – and someone who really enjoys playing for the club, as well. His situation, we know that we’ve exposed him back into the market. But before he came here, he was pretty much written off by a lot of people.

“His contract situation means it’s always going to be down to him and his agent. If he can see that Hibs is a real platform to get his career back on track …

“With a good pre-season and the right environment, in a place he enjoys, I think he’s got a high ceiling. And right now he’s loving his football, playing every week. Like with