I’d love a Ronan reunion but he’ll have plenty of admirers
Jim knows Dons face a fight to land former Buddies loan star Connor from Wolves
JIM GOODWIN would love to bring Connor Ronan to Aberdeen but admits they face stiff competition to sign the Wolves midfielder.
As exclusively revealed by Record Sport, Ronan is a target and the Dons boss also refused to rule out a move for Wigan’s Jamie McGrath later in the transfer window.
But Hearts want Ronan as well and are still in the mix for a player who starred for St Mirren under Goodwin last season.
Ronan, who returned to preseason training with Wolves yesterday, stood out for the Buddies. Goodwin said: “I’ve been linked with pretty much every player I worked with at St Mirren. I’m not going to deny the fact I have a lot of admiration for Connor as a player and as a person.
“He is a terrifically talented player and won all the player of the year awards at St Mirren last season.
“I sold St Mirren to him and told him I’d get him in Irish set-up. I banged the drum for him although he got himself into the Ireland squad. “I was having dialogue with the FAI and making sure they came to watch him because he deserved the opportunity. “We got him into the squad but unfortunately we weren’t able to get him a cap like we did with Jamie that time. “Connor is a terrific player and has no end of admirers looking at him just now I’d imagine. “I’m not going to deny the fact I’d love to work with him again.”
McGrath could yet stay at Wigan but Goodwin is a huge admirer of the man he brought to Paisley in 2020.
The Dons boss said: “Jamie is another hugely talented player who plays in a similar position to Connor.
“The Wigan thing hasn’t quite worked out the way I think he’d have hoped. My advice to him in January was to go to Aberdeen.
“But he chose to go to Wigan. He didn’t get the game time he wanted and ended up falling out of the international set-up as well.
“He needs to go where he is going to play regularly and be given the confidence and freedom to play the ways he is capable of.
“If it becomes an opportunity for us or someone else to do somethat thing I’m pretty sure there will be a list of potential managers wanting him.”
North Macedonian striker Bojan Miovski will today undergo a medical for the Dons in Spain.
But Goodwin says they face a Brexit headache and added: “Once we go back to Aberdeen he won’t be able to come with us, he has to do that visa process.”
Anthony Stewart has already checked in after the Dons convinced the stopper to leave Wycombe.
The defender said: “It’s amazing when you feel wanted by a club. I want to repay that with hard work.
“Aberdeen came in three weeks ago and we were negotiating. The vibe I felt was pretty warming.
“I thought I’m just going to go with my heart and made the decision.”