Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt concedes it would be tough to replace the “world class” Blair Kinghorn, with the Scotland full-back in discussions over a move to Toulouse.
The 26-year-old has been selected for Friday’s home game with Benetton while talks continue.
“There’s nothing formal yet,” said Everitt.
“We’d like to have a final answer in the near future because it impacts on how we play and the depth we have.”
Kinghorn, who can also operate as a winger and fly-half, has been a regular at Edinburgh since breaking into the first team seven years ago.
He has scored 128 points in 50 appearances for Scotland and is wanted by Top 14 champions Toulouse as a replacement for Toulon-bound Melvyn Jaminet.
“I’ve just been focusing on preparing the team,” added Everitt. “The ins and outs of the negotiations that have been taking place are just going to distract me from the job at hand, so I’ll leave that up to the hierarchy to make the right decision with the player and I’m sure I’ll be consulted at some stage.
“At the end of the day, a decision will be made that suits all three parties: the individual, Edinburgh and Scottish rugby.”
‘I don’t doubt his commitment to the club’
Edinburgh have started the United Rugby Championship season well, with four wins from five, and Everitt is expecting a fully focused Kinghorn on Friday.
“It probably is distracting for him during the week but this is not something that will have come up overnight or over the last few days,” he said. “These talks and rumours might have happened a couple of weeks back and he’s still performed.
“Being a professional, we have to trust that his mind’s on the job at hand. I don’t doubt his commitment to the club. He’s been a standout player and he’s extremely popular at Edinburgh, so I don’t think he would put himself first and let the people down who have supported him throughout his career.”
Everitt admits Kinghorn’s impending departure would leave a void but the coach has strong options.
“Blair is a world-class player and can be the best in his position in the world,” he said. “To replace a player of that quality is always going to be difficult. But we have youngsters in that position who have been waiting in the wings to get an opportunity.
“We’ve also got Emiliano Boffelli, who will be returning from injury, which will still give us an international back three (alongside Scotland wings Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe).
“There are not many franchises around the world that can boast four international back-three players so I think we are healthy in that department.”
