McInnes vows: £10m McKenna won’t be easy to plunder –he’s Premier League class
FROM BACK PAGE making a bid ahead of tonight’s crucial Battle of Britain second leg tie against Burnley.
Record Sport revealed last month Pittodrie chiefs have slapped a £10million price tag on McKenna’s head following news of Swans’ interest.
The Welsh outfit are on the verge of selling Alfie Mawson to newly-promoted Fulham for a fee of up to £20m and McInnes is adamant McKenna has the potential to be better than the former England Under-21 defender.
Former Dons loanees James Maddison and Danny Ward have also joined Leicester City for £24m and £12m respectively.
Dons rejected a £1m bid from Hull in January and McInnes is resigned to losing the player he believes is the best central defender in the country.
Asked about Swansea’s interest, he said: “There’s not been an official approach but we’ve had a conversation with Swansea.
“They asked about Scott’s availability and that was it. I don’t expect them to make an offer but if they do it’s not something we’d encourage.
“We are not saying he is not for sale but any offer for McKenna will need to be way over the top – whether that’s in this window, the next window or a future window. It’s not a matter of if Scott leaves Aberdeen. It’s when. And from my point of view, given what we want to do this season, I just hope it is not this summer.
“Swansea are on the verge of selling a centre-half for £18-20m and for me Scott will be every bit as good – and has potential to be even better – than the boy who has just left.
“He is Scotland’s best centrehalf now, we are well aware of his ability and that the vultures
are circling. Swansea weren’t encouraged to make a bid but we cannot stop them making a bid. It was two or three days ago so we have not heard anything. I wouldn’t be totally surprised if clubs make contact before the window closes.
“I think Scott will bypass the Championship and go straight to the Premier League. Look at Ward and Maddison. They go for £24m and £12m and a couple of seasons ago they were at Aberdeen. The valuation of the Premiership player is not always accurate. Virgil van Dijk leaves and all of a sudden Liverpool buy him for £75m.
“Nobody would have dared pay Celtic that for him. He had to prove himself first at Southampton but he was not any better at Southampton than he was at Celtic.
“Until we can do TV deals that help the financial situation I’d imagine Scottish players will be easy to plunder – but Scott McKenna won’t be easy to plunder.”
McInnes has no fears over playing McKenna at Turf Moor tonight and added: “This is a good stage, he is up against good strikers. Scott and others will need to be fully concentrated as they were last week.
“We are not down here to be gallant losers. Our aim is to get through to tie.”