Hibernian are set to secure a permanent deal to sign Wigan Athletic defender Jason Kerr after his exit from the club was sanctioned.

The 29-year-old, who was the captain of the Latics last season, was one of eight names confirmed to be leaving the Lancashire club at the start of May following a disappointing campaign in League One.

Kerr Makes Scotland Return

Now, according to the Edinburgh Evening News, Hibernian have moved to secure the centre-back as they look to bounce back from a fifth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership, with Motherwell and archrivals Hearts both overtaking them in the standings from 12 months earlier.

David Gray’s side have still secured European football next season with a place in the Conference League qualification rounds, but are still in need of new reinforcements with Rocky Bushiri injured for the foreseeable future, and have now moved for Kerr.

It is believed that the boyhood Hibs fan will undergo a medical in the Scottish capital this morning and a deal will be completed in the following days.

Kerr’s exit from Wigan is part of Gary Caldwell’s plans for wholesale changes at the Latics following consistent low-placing finishes in League One, having also allowed fellow defenders Will Aimson, Steven Sessegnon and Jack Hunt to leave the club this summer.

They could also lose other key figures within the squad, with both Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City pursuing goalkeeper Sam Tickle in the early stages of the transfer window, which officially opens today.

Restructuring Needed For Latics

While it was already confirmed that Jason Kerr would be on his way out of Wigan Athletic prior to this Hibernian move materialising, the move highlights that Gary Caldwell is not holding any emotions in his plans for the future.

Since his arrival from Exeter City late in the season, the Scottish manager will have been quick to realise that a full clearout is needed to stop the rot at the Brick Community Stadium as they edged ever closer to relegation.

They have already made moves to address the gaps in leadership that Kerr’s exit marks, with Max Power already secured for his third stint at the club from Bradford City.

Allowing Sam Tickle to leave may not be the best choice for the club in terms of squad strength, but the financial strength a sale could allow will surely allow the Latics to come on leaps and bounds with upgrading the squad.