Triantis is coming towards the end of his second loan spell at Hibs, having started 31 of his temporary employers’ 35 league matches this season.
The Australian has proved a revelation north of the border, with his performances in a deep-lying midfield role having seen him shortlisted for the Scottish Football Writers’ Player of the Year award.
As things stand, the 21-year-old is due to return to Sunderland at the end of the campaign, with his contract with the Black Cats still having two more years to run.
However, the Hibs hierarchy will table a formal offer in an attempt to secure his services on a permanent basis this summer, with their manager, David Gray, hoping Triantis will form a key part of his squad next season as he targets a European campaign.
Hibs currently sit third in the Scottish Premiership, with the top four finishers guaranteed European football of some description next season.
“He’s contracted to Sunderland, isn’t he, so we’ll wait and see exactly what happens there,” said Gray. “But I think he’s done really well.
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“He’s certainly benefited from coming here in terms of what he’s done for his career. And there’ll be a conversation to be had, but it’ll ultimately be up to his parent club, and also whatever he wants to do.
“But it’s certainly not a bad place for him to come and play. And the potential of European football next year is something else that he can add to his CV if he comes and wants to do that.”
Sunderland will have a decision to make over Triantis, who signed from Australian side Central Coast Mariners in the summer of 2023.
Originally signed as a defender, Triantis’ first senior appearances as a Sunderland player in the 2023-24 season came as part of the back four.
He was reinvented as a holding midfielder during his first spell with Hibs in the second half of last season though, and made a couple of midfield outings for Sunderland at the start of the current campaign prior to returning to Edinburgh.
“I think he’s had a fantastic season,” added Gray. “He’s been improving all the time. It’s probably the first season he’s had for a while where he’s played a lot of games as well, and consistently playing games of football is good for him.
“I say it all the time, you forget he’s only 21 years old. So, there’s a lot of improvement still to come and still to be done. And I think he’ll definitely benefit from that. Because I do believe there is loads more to come, and he’s the type of boy that wants to get better as well.
“Nectar’s been very consistent all season. Definitely, something that I wanted when I brought him to the club, was he’s got that defensive mindset, having been a centre-back previously, so his first thought isn’t always to go and try and score a goal, or to try and get up to the ball.
“Sometimes, it’s the defensive side of the game that I thought we really needed to strengthen, and credit to Nectar, because I think he’s done really well on that front.”
