Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen aims to add quality to squad for next season

Last updated : 22 April 2008 By Steve Forbes

mixunewboss.jpg picture by 1875steve

Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen has revealed there could be big changes in the Hibees squad this coming summer.

The big Finn has also warned that he will have to cut his squad as he feels it is too big.

A number of former boss John Collins' signings are expected to head for the Easter Road exit in the summer, with Mixu bringing in his own players to add to the signings he made in the January transfer window.

The Hibees landed Ian Murray from
Norwich City, Martin Canning from Gretna, Abdel Zarabi from French club Gueugnon for £100,000, Colin Nish from Kilmarnock for £150,000 and John Rankin from Inverness
Caledonian Thistle for £120,000.

Mixu is expected to offload a number of JC's signings come the end of the SPL season.

Patrick Noubissie, Mickael Antoine-Curier, Clayton Donaldson and Thierry Gatheussi could all be on their way out of Easter Road.

Alan O'Brien's future could also be in doubt after a horrendous first season at Hibs, having only featured five times from the start following his much publicised £300,000 move from English Premiership side
Newcastle
United in the summer.

German U21 international Torben Joneleit, another of Collins' signings on loan from Monaco, was sent back by Mixu after only playing two games while in Edinburgh.

Mixu has also already released youngster Keegan Ayre, who is currently training with
Gillingham
.

French midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin is out of contract at the end of the season and looks to be leaving also.

Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen said:

"There will be changes and I will strengthen. But I feel the squad is too big.

"We also need to add more quality in certain areas of the pitch. Hopefully we are lucky in the transfer market and make some good signings."


 

Thanks once again to Alan Rennie and the Hibernian Interactive team for the use of the photo.

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