Cardiff eye Hayes bid

EXCLUSIVE

CARDIFF CITY are mulling over a £500,000 offer for Aberdeen winger Jonny Hayes — as the Dons face a battle to hold on to their brightest stars. The 29-year-old has been one of the Pittodrie side’s best performers this season and has discussed a new contract to extend a current deal running out in 2018. Although Aberdeen skipper Ryan Jack has insisted that none of the squad will be in a rush to leave Pittodrie, an offer to move to England’s

Championship — and the massive salary increase that would go with it — will be tempting for Hayes. The former Leicester and Reading player scored the winner on Friday as the Dons beat Hearts to go third in the table, just two points behind Rangers with a game in hand. The loss of Hayes in this month’s transfer window would be a serious blow for Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes, who also has a number of first-team regulars on contracts expiring in the summer — meaning they are free to talk to suitors now. As it emerged that Hearts were keen on snapping up Northern Ireland star Niall McGinn on a pre-contract deal, club captain Jack said that none of his team-mates would be dashing for the exit. Midfielder Jack, one of a group including Andrew Considine, Ash Taylor, Peter Pawlett and McGinn — among others — on deals scheduled to expire soon, declared: ‘Everybody is fully committed to the club, including myself. People will sort out their futures when the time is right. ‘I’m sure when the time is right the manager will sort that side of it out. We have had a busy December and a lot going on.’