The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Dons close to bringing Hayes back
Transfer latest
Aberdeen hope to finalise a deal for Jonny Hayes to return to Pittodrie after making their move for the winger.
The 32 year-old is a free agent following his release by Celtic and the Dons have made their move to bring their former player, who they sold to the Hoops for a fee in the region of £1 million in 2017, back to Pittodrie.
Dundee United were also tracking Hayes but the player is keen to return to Aberdeen and the two parties are working on a two-year deal.
Dons boss Derek McInnes is eager to get Hayes on board this week after returning to work at Cormack Park yesterday for pre-season training.
Curtis Main was absent as he prepares for minor knee surgery today while Matty Kennedy also sat out training.
McInnes said: “Matty has had an injection in his ankle so he will spend the first couple of weeks doing some work with the physios.
“Curtis has also had some irritation in his knee which will require a clean-up operation which will keep him out for two or three weeks.”
While McInnes waits for the Hayes deal to be concluded the Dons boss has not ruled out Greg Leigh also returning.
Leigh has returned to NAC Breda following the end of his loan deal but despite agreeing a deal to bring Leigh to Aberdeen permanently a year ago McInnes says the coronavirus pandemic has forced the club to call off the deal.
The Dons boss said: “Greg is finished with us now unfortunately.
“We are not in a position to offer him anything due to the situation the club is facing. The financial challenges facing clubs has been well documented and it means right now we are not able to negotiate with NAC Breda for Greg.
“That situation might change but it is a shame as Greg was a key player for us until he suffered his injury.”
Meanwhile, the Dons have confirmed they were one of the clubs who voted against the SPFL’s proposals to increase the Scottish Premiership to 14 clubs at yesterday’s vote.
The Dons insist they were not averse to exploring permanent reconstruction but believed it should not be implemented simply as a knee-jerk reaction to the current crisis facing Scottish football.
The club was however prepared to support temporary reconstruction in a bid to help Hearts, Stranraer and Partick Thistle but opted not to support a permanent restructuring.
“Greg is finished with us now unfortunately”