WINS & OUTS
Del braced to lose 4 top Dons but thrilled he’s landed Tansey
DEREK McINNES insists there’s no need for a Pittodrie panic despite Niall McGinn revealing his future lies elsewhere and Ryan Jack and Ash Taylor stalling on new deals.
The Aberdeen boss chose to dwell on the positive news that 13 months after a bid to take Greg Tansey to the Dons, the Inverness playmaker will make the move in the summer.
A £200,000 offer was rejected in January 2016 by Caley Thistle despite the player making it clear he was keen to join the McInnes revolution.
The Dons thought they had triggered a get-out clause but Inverness dug their heels in and the deal collapsed amid a public fallout between the clubs.
Now, with a pre-contract and three-year deal in the bag for 28-year-old Tansey, McInnes is pleased with the way things have developed.
The Dons boss said: “He’s a fantastic player, one I’ve always admired. He’s got good passing range, he’s got assists, he’s got a goal in him, he’s a competitor, a great lad by all accounts and he’s at a good age to come to Aberdeen. “We still look to build. We’re looking to bring one or two more in before the end of the season.” But fans will be disappointed that Northern Ireland international McGinn – five years at Pittodrie and a target for Bolton and Sheffield United – has confirmed he’ll join Peter Pawlett, set for MK Dons, on the road south. McInnes added: “Unfortunately the indication now from Niall and his agent is they may have interest from the Championship and I think Niall wants to see how that develops. “I’ve been trying to draw a line under it for our own benefit because I felt we need clarity over certain players’ situations. “I had to push for an answer. It was nothing to do with the offer. It was just the opportunity to explore something in England and the Championship.”
But McInnes is not ready to press the alarm button over the potential loss of two other key performers.
He said: “I can’t go and buy an international player who has 51 caps. But you can try to look for good players.
“We’re an attractive club for a lot of players. The difference is finances always make it difficult for recruitment but we’ve always felt we’ve recruited well.
“The challenge will be to bring in good players if we are going to be losing good players.
“But that’s the job of a manager. It’s how you deal with it as a club – that’s vitally important.
“It’s not Armageddon. There is no sudden panic that we’re not going to do well. It’s disappointing but it’s the reality and we have to move on.
“Niall has been a brilliant servant for us but I don’t wish to talk about him in the past tense when we still have so much to look forward to for the rest of this season.
“He has been a brilliant boy to work with and it’s important for Niall to keep demonstrating that level of performance and I think he will. It’s important how you leave a club.”
McGinn, Jack and Taylor will line up against Dundee in the Premiership at Dens Park tonight, with the Dons keen to put greater distance between themselves and second-placed Rangers, currently eight points behind.
But McInnes is adamant Tansey has not been recruited as a replacement for his captain.
He said: “I’ve brought Tansey here to play. If I can have Ryan Jack sign for next season and if Tansey is in the building as well I’ll be absolutely delighted.
“The longer things go over whether Ryan and Ash will stay isn’t too concerning.
“But you do begin to think that maybe it’s not going to happen.
“Neither Ash nor Ryan have said no. They are deliberating what they want to do and we’ll find out over the next week or two what will happen and what they want to do next season.”