Maloney heading ‘home’ to Aberdeen

SCOTLAND star Shaun Maloney last night agreed a one-year deal to sign for Aberdeen, his hometown club, as manager Derek McInnes moved to fill the gap left by Jonny Hayes.

The 34-year-old had been mulling over a short-term contract offer to stay with Hull despite their drop into the Championship last season.

But the lure of returning to the northeast was too good to resist for the former Celtic winger.

Talks were ongoing tonight to get the deal over the line but Maloney should sign with his hometown club in the next 24 hours after undergoing a medical.

McInnes had singled out Maloney as a top summer target even before Hayes departed for Celtic.

But reports of Niall McGinn being on the verge of a move to a south Korean club forced the Pittodrie manager to move swiftly.

Earlier this month McInnes had admitted Maloney fitted the calibre of player he was hoping to bring to Pittodrie as the Dons prepare to challenge Celtic’s domestic supremacy.

He said: “We’re trying to bring a level of player and Shaun is that type of player that we’ve been used to having here.”

Hibs boss Neil Lennon was also keen to be reunited with his former Celtic player and team-mate.

The former Celtic winger should be available for the Dons’ Europa League second round qualifier on July 13.

Maloney had two spells in the Scottish top flight with Celtic, interrupted by a year with Aston Villa.

He left the Glasgow club a second time in 2011 to join Wigan Athletic and joined Hull after leaving Chicago Fire.

A Scottish international of 47 caps, he’ll provide some added experience to the squad and is comfortable playing any of the three positions behind the striker in Aberdeen’s preferred 4-2-3-1.

McInnes has also tabled a £300,000 bid for Preston’s Stevie May but could be forced to sit tight on that one now.