McInnes says now is not the time to cash in on McKenna
DEREK McINNES last night issued a hands-off warning to clubs eyeing £7million-rated Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna.
The Pittodrie side kicked out £3.5m bids from
Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest in the summer — after knocking back bigger offers from Celtic and Aston Villa in the previous window.
The 22-year-old slapped in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move — before withdrawing the demand when the window closed.
McInnes acknowledges Aberdeen will have to sell in the next 18 months to maximise their return.
Insisting McKenna is settled and in the best form of his career, however, the Dons boss hopes the Scotland international can earn a chance to place himself in the shop window at next summer’s Euro 2020 finals
‘We don’t want to sell him,’ said McInnes. ‘I don’t think there will ever be a time when it’s good for us — on the football side — to sell McKenna.
‘To maximise value, clearly the club will need to look at it in the next 18 months. But I don’t agree we need to sell Scott McKenna in this window. He still has two years to run on his contract.
‘I’m hoping Scotland qualify for a major championships and he’s part of that. Playing for Scotland isn’t something we take for granted — and I don’t know for certain what Steve Clarke thinks — but, for me, he’s a first choice now for the country.
‘So, if McKenna keeps doing what he’s doing for us, and goes into the play-off game in good form, then, hopefully, he’s part of the team that takes the country to a major championships.
‘Then he can show himself in that type of company. That’s what we’re hoping.’
Admitting the future of his star player might be out of his hands, McInnes is unaware of any likely new bids in the coming weeks.
Striker Sam Cosgrove has also been linked with clubs in the English Championship, but the Aberdeen manager would rather add to his squad than sell assets.
‘It’s been relatively quiet on that front,’ he said. ‘Like any manager, I would like to deal with any offers for key players early in the window.
‘But while they call it the January window, most offers only come in the last few days. Panic sets in and clubs start to show their hand.
‘If someone comes in for Scott, we just need to react to that and deal with it the best we can. That will be up to Dave Cormack and the board.’
Victim of a hamstring tear earlier in the season, McKenna was a huge loss for Aberdeen for over a month.
Expressing the view that the defender has been back to his best since returning, however, McInnes said: ‘I still think there is enough interest in him. People see his qualities. He has had a couple of injuries but anybody looking at his performances recently would agree he has been different class.
‘I think sometimes when a youngster comes on the scene and gets loads of praise and plaudits, people think: “What are we getting next from him?”
‘People are probably looking for a bit more from him because he’s built up a reputation. But, for me, his performances have been as good as they ever have been.
‘Hopefully, he is over his injuries now. When he plays like he has in the last wee while, there is no doubt he’s on the radar of other clubs.’