Source: Team_Talk
Hughes keen to keep Zemmama
Agent Rachid Tajmout has reportedly claimed French clubs Valenciennes and Lens are interested in signing Morocco playmaker Zemmama in the January transfer window.[LNB]But Hibs boss Hughes is determined to hold onto the 25-year-old, saying: "We're all aware at this club that if we're doing well and winning football matches, that's going to attract interest.[LNB]"But we don't want to lose anyone.[LNB]"It's stupid of me to comment on speculation but I'll tell you this, I want people at this club that are committed to the cause, love the club, and want to stay here and win things at Hibs.[LNB]"In football, we're all ambitious but sometimes in football you just have to take a step back and say, 'maybe this is the time it's coming together'.[LNB]"And if you can keep it together for three/four years, you can maybe go and win something."[LNB]Zemmama has 18 months of his contract remaining, and Hughes said he would "definitely" be interested in opening talks over an extension.[LNB]However, he insisted there was "no rush" to do so.[LNB]He added: "He's been hampered a little bit by injury but, when he's in the team, he gets the fans off their backsides and I've enjoyed working with him.[LNB]"I think he still has to find his top form.[LNB]"He's a conscientious little guy and I hope he's at Hibs for a long, long time to come."[LNB]Hibs have lost the likes of Gary Caldwell and Rob Jones after allowing their contracts to run down.[LNB]Another approaching the last six months of his deal is goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay, who this week expressed a desire to extend his stay at Easter Road.[LNB]Hughes said: "It would be great if we could keep him and tie him to the club.[LNB]"If not, that's football."[LNB]Ma-Kalambay is currently playing second fiddle to summer signing Graham Stack, although a back injury may make the latter a doubt for Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game with Motherwell.[LNB]Hughes said: "Stacky's got himself in there, we've gone nine games unbeaten, and at times your team picks itself.[LNB]"You just have to sit back, be patient and work very hard, and the big fellow is doing that."[LNB]Hughes revealed he had identified "one or two" January transfer targets but insisted he would not lose any sleep if he fails to land them.[LNB]"I'm quite happy with what I've got because I think there's a few of them still to hit top form," he said.[LNB]"If we can get them hitting top form then I think that's sometimes as good as getting a new player."[LNB]Saturday's game sees the second meeting this season between Hughes and Motherwell boss Jim Gannon.[LNB]Gannon has not been afraid to speak his mind this season, including calling for the introduction of a procedure to allow managers to assess referees.[LNB]Hughes said: "I've been brought up in an environment where if you've got something to say, you say it.[LNB]"Unfortunately, we're now working within rules where sometimes you cannot say it.[LNB]"Over the years, I've had plenty to say and got myself in plenty of trouble."[LNB]He added: "Referees, they owe it to the game to make sure you get rhythm.[LNB]"If you're blowing your whistle and booking everybody and stop-start, there's no rhythm to the game.[LNB]"But managers and players have to take it upon themselves that they're conducting themselves in a proper manner.[LNB]"We're all in it together."[LNB][LNB]
