Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes concedes it is unlikely Caley Thistle defender Graeme Shinnie will join the Dons before the closure of the January transfer window – but has not given up on bringing in another new addition to the club before Monday’s deadline.
Shinnie agreed a pre-contract agreement with the Dons on Sunday and will move to Pittodrie at the end of the season.
McInnes has bolstered his defence this week by signing West Brom defender Donervorn Daniels on loan until the end of the season with the 21-year-old poised to make his debut in Saturday’s League Cup semi-final against Dundee United.
Shinnie has not played in the League Cup this season and could feature for the Dons this weekend if a fee could be agreed with Caley Thistle, but McInnes does not expect a deal to be done.
The Aberdeen manager still has business to do before the transfer window closes on Monday.
He said: “I know I have not commented on Shinnie, but we have got to be respectful as he is still an Inverness player.
“Getting Graeme in for the summer pleases me no end. He is a player joining a good team and hopefully we can help him develop as a player.
“I’m not expecting Graeme to be here during this window. We tried to get him in the summer and that wasn’t possible.
“Now we have him for next summer and we will just be patient and look forward to having him here.
“We might get one or two in before the end of the window and there could be a few going out on loan.
“We were looking at bringing in one before getting Donervorn following Ashton Taylor’s injury so there is still the opportunity to do so.”
McInnes, meanwhile, is not bothered that Saturday’s semi-final between the Dons and United has been overshadowed in some parts by the match between Celtic and Rangers the following day.
The Aberdeen manager is confident Saturday’s match will be an entertaining spectacle and is hopeful his side can edge closer to retaining the cup with a victory against Jackie McNamara’s side.
McInnes added: “I am not really bothered with what is happening on Sunday. This is a brilliant game. It’s great to be involved in it.
“This is our third semi-final in a row and we want to make the most of it as we have been involved in both sides, winning one and losing the other.
“That experience will help us. The motivation is there for both teams.
“With the support we will have and the players we have on the pitch I am always confident we can get a result.”