Scunthorpe United midfielder Jamie Ness will not be joining Aberdeen but the Dons remain optimistic they will sign a new midfielder before the transfer window closes at midnight.
The 25-year-old former Rangers player has been linked with a return north of the border after leaving Ibrox for Stoke City four years ago.
Ness joined Scunthorpe on a free transfer in July 2015 but has made only one 23-minute substitute appearance in the English League One side’s opening five matches this season.
The Dons have been repeatedly linked with Ness during Derek McInnes’ time in charge but it is understood the midfielder will not be making a deadline day move to Pittodrie.
Aberdeen made a late bid to sign Greg Tansey on the final day of the January transfer window but the club have no plans to make another move for the Caley Thistle player this time around.
But adding a central midfielder remains McInnes’ main priority with captain Ryan Jack set to undergo knee surgery today.
McInnes said: “We are really strong in certain areas of the team.
“We have two brilliant goalkeepers, we have strong central defenders and we aren’t bad in the full back, wide and centre forward areas.
“We should have Jonny Hayes and Peter Pawlett back from injury for our next match against Inverness Caley Thistle.
“In certain areas we are fine but the middle of the park is one area where we may need to act.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne has written to the club’s supporters outlining his vision for the club’s new stadium and training facilities.
Milne says he hopes to have the football academy in place for the 2018 season and the stadium at Kingsford on the outskirts of Westhill for the 2020 season.
He told supporters: “As you know, the academy cannot come quickly enough for our football manager Derek McInnes.
“He has repeatedly said that if Aberdeen wants to achieve its ambition to be a leading club in Scotland and serious contenders in Europe regularly then our players – at both senior and youth level – must be provided with the best possible facilities to allow them every opportunity to fulfil their potential.”
Aberdeen’s home match against Celtic on Saturday, October 29, has been moved from a 3pm kick-off to a 12noon start for television purposes.
The Dons won both Pittodrie meetings against the Hoops last season.