Del plotting January bid to pip Hibs to Campbell
DEREK McINNES wants to make a pre-contract pitch for Allan Campbell come January as Aberdeen bid to beat Hibs to another talent.
Record Sport yesterday revealed the Easter Road club are monitoring the midfielder’s situation, with his Motherwell deal due to expire next summer.
But Dons boss McInnes has put the Scotland Under21 star among his top out-of-contract targets.
He wants Aberdeen to be in a position to table a precontract offer in January to
sign the 22-year-old. The Pittodrie club know they will face competition from both sides of the border but want to be in the fight.
Aberdeen have beaten Hibs to the signings of Ross McCrorie and Funso Ojo in recent seasons.
The Dons know they’d have to pay around £200,000 in training compensation but would be prepared to do so for a top Scots talent.
And they are aware it is unlikely Well will sell in this transfer window, due to shut on Monday, unless it is a substantial offer.
Campbell was part of Stephen Robinson’s side when they ran out 3-0 winners in the Granite City 10 days ago.
Post-match, McInnes said: “Campbell came up and played to win points, we played to play a game of football.
“Campbell encapsulated Motherwell’s performance. We needed more Allan Campbells in our team.”
Well have offered the product of their youth academy a deal to stay beyond 2021, while several English and Scottish clubs have expressed an interest.
Aberdeen have shown they will spend to land Scots with potential, having signed Lewis Ferguson from Hamilton and McCrorie from Rangers.