Caley Thistle manager John Hughes says there will be no deal to sign Swedish defender Benjamin Omerovic if it impacts on the funding required to extend the loan stay of leading scorer Miles Storey.
Omerovic has been on trial at Caledonian Stadium after being told he can leave Swedish third-tier outfit Nykopings BIS, with the 21-year-old playing in Inverness’ 2-2 draw against Partick Thistle in the SPFL Development League on Tuesday.
Although Hughes has been impressed with Omerovic, the Caley Jags manager says his priority is to keep attacker Storey on loan from English League 1 side Swindon until the end of the season. The player has netted seven goals in his first 12 appearances for the Highlanders.
Storey’s current loan deal expires next month, with Hughes keen to retain the Englishman’s services before dipping into the transfer market for new arrivals.
Hughes said: “If it came to a choice between keeping Miles or bringing in Benji, I’d keep Miles because I know what I’m getting. That’s where we have to weigh up the pros and cons. Can we keep that money for a rainy day?
“Coming into this window there are a few guys out of contract and the first one we want to do is Miles Storey. We’re hoping that it’s business as usual, the same deal after the new year and the goalposts haven’t moved.
“Miles was keen to come up and after two or three days, you could see he was a player. It’s worked for the both of us.
“Miles wants to stay here and he’s still got improving to do. Worst-case scenario, he goes back to Swindon and sits on his backside and no one benefits from that.”
Hughes says defender Omerovic has done himself no harm in his pursuit of a permanent deal with Caley Jags.
Hughes said: “He’s acquitted himself very well, even if the intensity with which we go about our business has been a bit of an eye-opener. He did very well against Partick and he’s young enough to improve.
“The boys have taken to him and included him in everything. He’s a good footballer. There’s definite potential there.”
Club captain Richie Foran has suffered a setback in his return to fitness, after suffering a head knock which required stitches during the Development League encounter against Partick.
Foran is working his way back from a long-term knee injury and has not started a match since March 2014, although he has made three substitute appearances this season.