Next two windows may give us Cos to let Dons star go
Derek McInnes admits Aberdeen are braced for further bids for Sam Cosgrove as he reckons the next two transfer windows offer the best chance to maximise the hitman’s value.
The giant striker knocked back a move to French second tier side Guingamp earlier in the month after a deal believed to be worth £ 2million plus add-ons was accepted.
McInnes is desperate to hold on to the player who struck 23 goals last season.
But with interest from Stoke among other clubs south of the border, the Dons boss said: “He (Cosgrove) will be on the radar of a lot of clubs.
“There will be certain leagues that clubs target and there’s no doubt his name will have been discussed.
“England has still to sort itself out with promotion and relegation and with the extension of the transfer window I’m sure we will be tested. But it has to be right for everybody.
“Sam is going into the last two years of his contract and we know this window and next is the best chance to maximise the potential of him.
“If we go this time next year, even if he has hit 25 goals, then in the last year of his contract we are maybe in a vulnerable position.”
McInnes believes Cosgrove
“potentially” is worth more than the initial £2m bid.
But af ter add- ons he understood why the club accepted the offer.
And the Pittodrie gaffer lifted the lid on his heart-toheart with the hitman as he pondered the French move.
“Is Sam worth a bit more? Potential ly,” he told BBC Sportsound. “But weighing everything up I can understand totally why the club accepted it.
“The overall package was substantial.
“I spoke to Sam in the morning and said, ‘ If it feels right for you and the finances are right then it’s a move you should make. If it’s not then nobody is kicking you out the door here.’
“It was entirely his decision. I don’t think financially it was the right move for him and I don’t think he saw France as his next step.
“He is in a good place here, he has been a key player over the last 18 months and scored a brilliant amount of goals.
“It’s up to us to try to hold on to our key players for as long as possible.
“But we also understand the club’s view if it was as strong an offer as it was in the current circumstances then these things all have to be looked at.”