The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
McInnes says Cosgrove will attract more transfer bids
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes expects more clubs to try to prise Sam Cosgrove away from Pittodrie.
The Dons boss also admitted his club will have to sell Cosgrove in this transfer window or next in order to maximise the fee they receive for the Englishman, who is under contract until 2022.
French Ligue 2 side Guingamp had a bid in excess of £2 million accepted for Cosgrove earlier this month but the striker opted against a move to the Continent.
Several clubs in the English Championship, including Stoke City and Middlesbrough, have been weighing up a move for the Dons’ leading scorer for the past two seasons, while there have also been reports of interest in Germany.
McInnes said: “There are certain leagues that clubs target and there’s no doubt that his name will be discussed.
“In England the promotion and relegation side of it is just getting sorted out and with the extension of the transfer window (until October 5) means
I’m pretty sure we will be tested.
“But it’s got to be right for everybody – first and foremost it’s got to be right for the club when it comes to the offer.
“Sam didn’t feel that one was right for him, but next time around it might be something that feels more right and we need to brace ourselves for that for any of our good players.”
The Dons signed Cosgrove from Carlisle United for £20,000 in January 2018 and McInnes accepts the club won’t be able to command the same level of transfer fee as Guingamp offered if they hold on to their star man for too long.
He said: “I don’t know exactly what the figure was, there were incentives with future sell-ons and if Guingamp got promoted, so there was those bits and pieces and the likelihood of additional income coming into the club over a period of time.
“I can understand totally why the club would look at that in these circumstances.
“Sam’s got two years left and we know that this window and next is the best chance for us to maximise the potential of Sam.”