Hibs set to buy De la Cruz

De la Cruz is to sign a five-year deal with Hibs

Hibs hope to complete the signing of Ecuador international Ulises de la Cruz for £700,000 early next week.

The fee represents Hibs' biggest-ever buy and, barring last-minute complications, the deal will be done when De la Cruz arrives in Scotland.

The 24-year-old midfielder was watched by Hibs boss Alex McLeish in action for Liga Deportivo Universitaria de Quito and he is expected to sign a five-year contract at Easter Road.

Hibernian press officer David Forsyth said: "There's no stumbling block or anything untoward going on because he's not in the country yet so we can't conclude anything.

"We are confident that a deal will go through and we have agreed everything with his club. But we won't announce anything until we have signed him and a deal has been struck."

McLeish is still hopeful Hibs can still find the £1m Toulouse want for striker Marc Libbra, who enjoyed a successful loan period at Easter Road at the end of last season.