The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Cosgrove’s £2m compliment
Dodds: Guingamp approach shows just how far Dons talisman has come
Sam Cosgrove should take the interest in him as a major confidence boost, according to former Aberdeen striker Billy Dodds
French club Guingamp had a bid in excess of £2 million for Cosgrove accepted, with the player turning down the move due to it being a rushed decision.
It is not the first club to show an interest in Cosgrove, pictuerd, nor is it likely to be the last, given his prolific form for the Dons in the last two seasons.
He has finished the last two campaigns as the club’s top scorer, with 44 goals in that period, and clubs in the English Championship have been monitoring his progress.
Dodds, who scored 57 goals for Aberdeen himself across a four-year spell, does not believe Cosgrove should take it as an indication the club want to cash in on his services. He hopes Cosgrove sees it as a sign of how far he has come since his £20,000 move from Carlisle in 2018.
Dodds said: “I can understand why Aberdeen wanted to do business – it’s a good deal. People have been saying ‘it shows you they want to do business with Cosgrove – how does he feel?’. I would take that as a positive that teams are willing to bid £2m. It shows how far he’s come.
“It’s a pat on the back that teams want to pay that for you.”
Derek McInnes said at the weekend that the Dons will have to sell Cosgrove in this transfer window or next in order to maximise the fee they receive.
McInnes has spoken previously about his hope he can keep hold of the majority of his players this summer. So far, only Danny Rogers and Frank Ross of the senior side have been released, with Greg Leigh and Jon Gallagher returning to their parent clubs. Cosgrove is under contract until 2022 and another part of the reasoning behind his decision to stay was that he felt he had unfinished business with the club. Guingamp finished eighth in Ligue 2 last season and were looking to push through a move before the closure of the French transfer window. Dodds added: “Players like time to think about things. The club have gone to him and said ‘look we’ve accepted a bid, you’ve got 24 hours to think about it’. Sometimes you’re better taking stock of things.
“It’s a big move and his wages would go up but it was rushed. I don’t blame him. But it bodes well for Aberdeen and Sam and I don’t think it’s a slight on anyone.”
Meanwhile, Ross County were left frustrated after Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Hibs was called off at the last minute after the Easter Road side’s coronavirus test results failed to turn up on time.
The Staggies, who drew 2-2 against the Dons in a bounce game the week before, were already on their way to Edinburgh when they were told the game was off.
The Hibs players and staff underwent testing on Thursday and expected to receive the results on Saturday morning.
The Easter Road side have said they will now carry out their testing earlier in the week to avoid a similar outcome happening again.
berdeen 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 £2million 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 round 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 prized asset 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. It was such a strong offer that you couldn’t put it in that category. Is Sam worth a bit more? Potentially.
“But weighing everything up, I understand totally why the club accepted it.
“Sam’s got two years left and we know that this window and next is the best chance for us to maximise his potential.”
McInnes, meanwhile, is happy with the progress his side is making ahead of the start of the season, despite a late call-off for a scheduled bounce game last week.
He added: “We have managed to get a few games. We took on Stuart Kettlewell’s Ross County last Saturday and it was great to get the boys back playing proper football.
“During the week we were let down by a team, who will remain nameless, for a game. They cancelled quite late on.
“We have had two 11 v 11 practice matches.
“We had one on Saturday at the training ground with referees and boys in their match kit as well.”