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.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."But we don't want to lose anyone."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."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'."And if you can keep it together for three/four years, you can maybe go and win something."Zemmama has 18 months of his contract remaining, and Hughes said he would "definitely" be interested in opening talks over an extension.However, he insisted there was "no rush" to do so.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."I think he still has to find his top form."He's a conscientious little guy and I hope he's at Hibs for a long, long time to come."Hibs have lost the likes of Gary Caldwell and Rob Jones after allowing their contracts to run down.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.Hughes said: "It would be great if we could keep him and tie him to the club."If not, that's football."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.Hughes said: "Stacky's got himself in there, we've gone nine games unbeaten, and at times your team picks itself."You just have to sit back, be patient and work very hard, and the big fellow is doing that."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."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."If we can get them hitting top form then I think that's sometimes as good as getting a new player."Saturday's game sees the second meeting this season between Hughes and Motherwell boss Jim Gannon.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.Hughes said: "I've been brought up in an environment where if you've got something to say, you say it."Unfortunately, we're now working within rules where sometimes you cannot say it."Over the years, I've had plenty to say and got myself in plenty of trouble."He added: "Referees, they owe it to the game to make sure you get rhythm."If you're blowing your whistle and booking everybody and stop-start, there's no rhythm to the game."But managers and players have to take it upon themselves that they're conducting themselves in a proper manner."We're all in it together."

Source: Team_Talk