The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee’s double swoop as United seal winger deal
Ojamaa and Klok at Dens; Nicholls joins Tangerines
There was delight for Dundee boss Paul Hartley and frustration for Dundee united manager Ray McKinnon as the transfer window closed at midnight.
The Dark Blues swooped to sign former Motherwell forward Henrik Ojamaa and ex-Ross County midfielder Marc Klok, while the Tangerines suffered a difficult night as they missed out on top targets Nadir Ciftci and Conor Sammon.
However, there was consolation for the Tannadice club in the 11th hour signing of winger Alex Nicholls on loan from English League Two side Barnet. The 29-year-old Englishman, whose former clubs include Walsall, Northampton Town and Exeter, has agreed a loan deal until the end of the season.
United had let wideman Tope Obadeyi leave by mutual consent just six months after signing from Kilmarnock, while the Dens men sent Yordi Teijsse out on loan to German club Wuppertaler SV.
St Johnstone, meanwhile, signed Preston North End defender Clive Smith on loan until the summer. The 19-year-old will join Saints to provide cover after they were unable to bring Liam Gordon back from Peterhead.
Dundee manager Paul Hartley has declared himself “happy” with the club’s transfer business.
The Dark Blues closed two deals last night, just hours before the window slammed shut. They have snapped up former Motherwell frontman Henrik Ojamaa and ex-Ross County midfielder Marc Klok.
Hartley feels both will give the club a boost for the remainder of the Premiership season.
Estonian international Ojamaa comes on loan from Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands, while Dutchman Klok had been playing for Oldham Athletic in England’s League One. Both players’ deals are until the end of the season.
Going out the door yesterday were striker Yordi Teijsse, who joined German side Wuppertaler SV on a loan until the summer, and young central defender Matty Smyth, who moved to Arbroath on a development loan.
That all added to the Derry City loan switch made by Nicky Low and the move to Montrose made by defender Matty Allan the previous day. Rory Loy joined St Mirren earlier in the month.
Hartley said: “I am happy with what we have done in the window. There is now more competition up front with bringing Henrik in and I think Marc will add to our options in the middle of the park.”
The Dens boss sees Ojamaa fitting nicely into his forward line.
He said: “We are really delighted to get Henrik in and I think he will be perfect for playing alongside Marcus Haber.
“We have been looking for someone to complement him and add pace to our attack, so he will be ideal for that.
“Henrik had a great first spell with Motherwell, scoring a lot of goals and got a very good move to Legia Warsaw in Poland on the back of that.
“He is still only 25 but has lots of experience at both club and international level so he will be a good addition to the squad.
“I have felt we have been a bit short up front because both Craig Wighton and Faissal El Bakhtaoui are still developing so at times they will have to be taken out of the team .But getting Henrik on board means we have more options now and I think his style will add something to the team.”
Hartley believes the short spell in Dingwall will help Klok fit in quickly.
The Dark Blues boss added: “We have had Marc in for a few days’ training with us and liked what we saw.
“He was a young lad when he first came to Scotland. I think he was only 19 when Derek Adams took him to Ross County.
“Having that experience of the league, even though he only played a few games, is an advantage because he knows what it’s all about. He has a contract to the end of the season so it is up to him to impress and win a longer stay.”