The Scottish transfer window closes midnight Monday, something Derek McInnes will be pleased about with the Dons’ boss quoted as saying January can be a destabilising month for clubs and the target is to try get through it stronger by the end than you were at the start.
That kind of sums up the mood on the cashless Scottish transfer market. Bar the big two, who live in an entirely different dimension with the resources available to them – Celtic just got a nice £11m for Frimpong (*Man City reportedly have a 30 per cent buy on clause in the transfer) – most clubs in Scotland just hope they won’t lose players.
But it looks to be the case that Aberdeen will lose one in Fuso Ojo who missed yesterday’s trip to St Johnstone as the midfielder ties up a loan move to Wigan.
Scott Wright is also leaving although – hopefully – Aberdeen will keep hold of the player to the end of the season before he moves to rivals Rangers (you’ll see in a minute why we’re hopeful he stays).
The other potential mover is Sam Cosgrove with a number of clubs having made informal enquires about the big centre forward, the most serious being Sheffield Wednesday who were apparently priced out of a move.
At the start of the season McInnes squad was touted as the best he had to work with in his eight year tenure with the addition of Ross McCrorie and the loan signings of Marley Watkins and Ryan Edmundson – Watkins was a particularly shrewd addition making a real impression on the Dons.
Now the squad is looking a little light. Watkins and Edmundson, who have returned to their parent clubs, were brought in as cover for the injured Cosgrove and Main. Neither striker has looked like the ‘new signing’ it was hoped after overcoming lengthy lay-offs. Both Main and Cosgrove have been shy in front of goal with six goals between them this campaign.
Further articles:
–Aberdeen In A Bore Draw With St Johnstone In Perth: Reaction
–Inquest: Can McInnes Reinvigorate Aberdeen After Crushing Defeat To Ross County?
–Aberdonian David Law begins his third year on the PGA European Tour
–From Title Challengers To Struggling To Qualify For Next Season’s Champions League. Where Has It Gone Wrong For Borussia Dortmund?
With the departure of Ojo the midfield in particular is beginning to look a little thin.
Aberdeen don’t to seem to have the right fit to cover for starters Ferguson, Hedges, Hayes and Wright. At the age of 33, McGinn looks to be entering the swansong of his career, McGeouch has been beset by injury, Campbell doesn’t seem to be demonstrating the form that reassures his manager, while Virtanen, Ross and Duncan have a combined total of nine appearances between them.
So that’s why we hope Wright stays for the remainder. It might be a sore one for Dons’ supporters to accept that their club has to rely so heavily on a player who is leaving, but with fourteen games to go and only three points in it third is by no means wrapped up.
On the signing front: This is a short section. With the lack of money available to Derek McInnes at the moment the manager has iterated he expects there to be no signings. If anyone comes in it will be a bit of magic done in the loans department.
Who would Aberdeen ideally want? How about Oli Shaw from Ross County? The young forward is demonstrating his instinct to find the net in the SPL with three in his last three games including a brace against Aberdeen.
But there’s almost zero chance Ross County will let their best forward go to a direct rival halfway through the season.
Transfer windows are usually a buzz of excitement but in Scotland, for the majority of clubs, they are just another factor to add to the stress levels.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 