Martin Boyle to Hibs transfer sticking point emerges as Lee Johnson hopes to clear final hurdle

Lee Johnson says Martin Boyle does want to come back to Hibs – but confesses the club will have to pay a serious wedge to land the attacker.

The Aussie international left for Saudi club Al-Faisaly in a £3million switch in January but the move has not turned out as planned. After his team were relegated from the top tier, the 29-year-old has been forced to take a wage cut. And Boyle is now ready to return to Edinburgh to be with his young family, who stayed behind in the capital.

Talks between the clubs behind the scenes continue, although the move is made more complicated by the fact Al-Faisaly are still paying off the instalments of the fee. On Boyle wanting to come back, Johnson said: “That’s my understanding. But again I’m talking out of turn effectively because he is not our player. We potentially have room to bring one more in.

"If that’s Martin, great. If not, we go back to the drawing board. It won’t be cheap. It would have to take a big investment from the ownership to do that.”

Boyle is still in Scotland and is waiting to see if a deal can be struck with Hibs. Al Faisaly are not looking to sell Boyle but they have an understanding of his personal situation, with his wife and family still in the UK.

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