Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
No deal for Jon despite reports
DUNDEE have distanced themselves from a move for former Athletic Bilbao left-back Jon Aurtenetxe, despite reports linking him with a deal at Dens Park.
The Spain U/21 international had been on trial with the Dark Blues and played in a closed-doors game against Arbroath last Wednesday.
Speculation started when Bilbao released a statement yesterday saying: “Jon Aurtenetxe leaves . . . to enlist in a new professional experience.
“Amorebieta thanks Jon Aurtenetxe professionalism and wishes him the best of luck in his new career.”
And reports in Spain linked that tweet with the fact he’d been on trial with Dundee to say he’d already penned a deal at Dens Park.
H o w e v e r, t h e Te l e understands that is not the case.
The 25-year-old came to Dens with a pedigree, having played 90 times for La Liga side Bilbao.
That included a run to the 2012 Europa League Final, with Aurtenetxe netting in the semi-final against Sporting Lisbon before starting the final which Bilbao l ost 3-0 to fellow Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
H o w e v e r, despite impressing in that match against Arbroath at Gayfield, Dundee aren’t planning on making a move f or t he versatile defender.
That may change but, for the meantime, a left-back isn’t a priority for manager Neil McCann.
There were a couple of trialists playing f or t he Development side last night in the Wee Derby win over Dundee United.
An unnamed centre-back and ex-Burnley striker Richard Pingling were looking to show enough to earn a deal with the U/20s.
Head of Youth Jimmy Boyle is looking to bolster his squad and t he t wo players did OK at Links Park last night (see p36&37).