Glass eager to keep his Dons squad intact as transfer window looms

Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass hopes the January transfer window will pass with none of his key players having departed the club, but insists the Dons are ready to react if they do.

Ryan Hedges, Lewis Ferguson and Calvin Ramsay have all been attracting interest from clubs in England, with Blackburn Rovers leading the race to secure Wales international Hedges’ signature.

The English Championship side hope to reach a pre-contract agreement with Hedges, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

The Dons also rejected bids in the summer from Watford for Ferguson, who scored his eighth goal of the season in the 2-1 win against Dundee on Boxing Day while talented full back Ramsay has been tracked by several Premier League sides.

Aberdeen boss Glass hopes none of his key players moves on next month but insists the club is ready to replace any players who do leave the club in the January window.

When asked if he expects any departures Glass said: “I certainly hope there is not, but if some of our players keep playing the way they have then there is always a danger.

“Recently, their performances have been very good and that is always the danger when you go into a transfer window.

“We are ready to react if we have to and we are ready to add if we choose. You want to strengthen continually.

“There is a danger we could be weakened by players going out but we need to also be ready to strengthen.”

The Dons boss confirmed after the Boxing Day win at Pittodrie that midfielder Matty Longstaff had been recalled by Newcastle United after a disappointing loan spell in the Granite City.

Teddy Jenks and Austin Samuels are also on loan at the Dons from Brighton and Wolves respectively and Glass expects talks to take place between his club and the Premier League sides.

He said: “As was the case with Matty, they will be looked at in the window by the parent club and ourselves. We all have decisions to make on what is best for the clubs.”

Meanwhile, the Aberdeen manager is hopeful Marley Watkins will be fit for the first game after the winter break against Rangers.

The Wales international was forced off in Sunday’s win against Dundee with an ankle injury and Glass is keeping his fingers crossed the former Caley Thistle attacker will recover for the game against Rangers at Pittodrie on January 18.

Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous will serve a three-match suspension over his clash with Aberdeen striker Christian Ramirez.

The defender was due to face an SFA fast-track tribunal hearing today but Hibs have accepted his guilt on a charge of violent conduct.

Porteous will receive a mandatory two-match ban for the red-card offence and will also miss another game because he had already been sent off this season, for a challenge on Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo at Ibrox.

Porteous appeared to kick out at Ramirez after the pair fell to the ground but referee Alan Muir played on

Aberdeen’s Stephen Glass accepts he may lose players.