Caley Thistle manager John Hughes hopes qualifying for Europe can help convince his out-of-contract players to remain with the club.
Hughes is stepping up talks to keep the seven players whose deals expire in the summer, after Inverness secured Europa League football for next season with Saturday’s 1-0 win against Dundee.
Captain Graeme Shinnie has already signed a pre-contract with Premiership rivals Aberdeen, while midfielder Marley Watkins looks set to join him in leaving, with Barnsley, Hearts and Rangers reported to be interested.
However, Hughes has opened negotiations with midfielders Nick Ross, Lewis Horner and Liam Polworth, as well as defender Danny Devine, while he is also looking to keep attacker Edward Ofere and wide midfielder Tarmo Kink at Caledonian Stadium.
Caley Jags’ qualification for Europe for the first time in their 21-year history marks the club’s most successful season, with the chance to go one better by winning this month’s Scottish Cup final against Falkirk.
Hughes is hopeful Inverness’ ever-increasing reputation – coupled with the SPFL’s fresh sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes – boosts the prospects of keeping his squad intact.
Hughes said: “It’s a team game and we’re raising the profile of the club this season. I hope that might tempt one or two to stay, while maybe attracting one or two as well.
“We are trying to keep all the players who are out of contract.
“We are in negotiations, but we are going to sit down and look at Tarmo and Eddie. They’re not from Scotland, so we’ll need to find out the family situation.
“I need to sit down with the chairman, because the SPFL’s Ladbrokes deal certainly helps our budget. It’s the same as Celtic qualifying for the latter stages of a European competition.”
Hughes is also keen to add fresh faces to his squad and added: “It took us a while to get players in at Christmas time. Everything we’ve done has been really calculated.
“We had to sell our leading scorer Billy Mckay, who went to Wigan and doubled, or possibly trebled, his wages.
“That might be the same with one or two players who are out of contract now. But I don’t get frustrated too much because no one is bigger than the club.
“If players take that gamble, we need to find new heroes. That recruitment is ongoing as well.
“We owe it to the supporters, for them to see some new faces. We are trying to bring another one or two in.”