Reds wait on Ramirez but no woe over delay

Aberdeen face having to wait until the end of the month for Christian Ramirez to arrive.

The Dons have agreed a deal with the MLS for the Houston Dynamo striker and have also agreed terms with the American.

Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass had hoped to have the 30-year-old on board for pre-season training but the move has been delayed as Houston want to have a replacement in place before allowing the player to move across the Atlantic to Pittodrie.

The Dons are content to wait for their man and are not unduly concerned at the delay given the forward is match-sharp, and missing the start of preseason on Monday will not pose a problem.

Aberdeen also remain confident they will navigate any work permit issues in time for their first game of the new campaign, the Conference League second qualifying round first leg tie on Thursday July 22.

One player who will be at Cormack Park for the start of pre-season training next week, however, is Funso Ojo.

The Belgian midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Wigan Athletic after being allowed to leave by former Dons boss Derek McInnes and played 23 games as he helped keep the Latics in League One in England.

The 29 year-old, who will be put through his paces under new manager Stephen Glass and his backroom staff, has 12 months remaining on his contract with Aberdeen.

New Don Teddy Jenks says joining Aberdeen on loan was the best option for him. The highly-rated Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder has joined the Reds on a season-long loan.

Jenks, 19, has made two appearances in the English Premier League side’s first team.

When it came to potential loan moves this summer, the England age group international had a number of options. However, Jenks felt Pittodrie was the best fit for him and is hoping to deliver goals for Stephen Glass’s side.

He said: “It’s been on the cards for a while (the move). When it first came up it wasn’t like ‘this is where you’re going to go’.

“It was there with a few other clubs, but now I’ve thought more and more about it it’s a brilliant club with a brilliant history and the best option for me.

“I wanted to get it done instead of doing all my offseason work and wondering where I’ll be going.

“Now it’s done I can focus on getting ready for the first day of pre-season. My aims are to get as much game time as possible, help the team out, hopefully get some goals and play well.

“I enjoy scoring goals and that’s one of the big things I want to do here.”

Jenks has spoken to Dons boss Glass about what his role may be in the new season.

He expects to have to fight for his place with central midfielders like Scott Brown, Lewis Ferguson, Dean Campbell, Ross McCrorie, Dylan McGeouch and Funso Ojo already in Aberdeen’s squad.

Jenks believes playing for the Reds will suit him and added: “We (he and Glass) spoke a bit. Scott Brown is coming in and there are good midfielders here.

“I’m going to have to fight for my place, but I think I can fit in quite nicely.

“When we play at Brighton we like to keep possession and I think playing here will suit my game.”

Jenks enjoyed a decent 2020-21 campaign with Brighton.

He made his second appearance for Graham Potter’s first team in a League Cup tie against Preston last September, but most of his game time came for the Seagulls’ under-23s, who he scored eight goals for in 23

Premier League 2 appearances. He also revealed boss Potter was keen for him to come to Aberdeen.

“I was in and out with the first team and under23s,” Jenks said.

“I had a few minutes in the first team in a cup game and was on the bench for a few Premier League games.

“Most of my games were with the 23s, but overall it was a good season.

“I haven’t spoken to him (Potter) directly, but I know he’s keen on it.”

Jenks has played for England U15s, U16s and U17s and scored for the latter age group at the 2019 U17 European Championship. He added: “We had the Euros at U17s and that’s probably been the best experience. It’s been really good being involved with England.”