Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists Caley Thistle midfielder Greg Tansey has not been brought to Pittodrie as a direct replacement for captain Ryan Jack and hopes to field both players in the same team next season.
Tansey signed a pre-contract agreement with the Dons yesterday and will move to Pittodrie on a three-year deal this summer.
Tansey’s imminent arrival softened the blow that Northern Ireland midfielder Niall McGinn is set to leave the club when his contract expires in the summer for a new challenge in England.
Captain Jack is also nearing the end of his contract and McInnes was adamant that Tansey has not been signed as his replacement.
He said: “I tried to get Greg Tansey when Ryan Jack was here before.
“I’ve brought Greg here to play. If I can have Ryan Jack sign for next season and if Greg Tansey is in the building as well, I’ll be delighted.”
Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United are among the clubs interested in landing free agent McGinn, who has netted 67 goals in 213 appearances since joining the Dons in 2012.
When asked about the prospect of replacing one of his most pivotal players, McGinn said: “I can’t go and buy an international player who has 51 caps but you can try to look for good players.
“We are an attractive club for a lot of players.
“The difference is finances always make it difficult for recruitment but we’ve always felt that we’ve recruited well.
“The challenge will be to bring in good players if we are going to be losing good players but that’s the job of a manager, it’s how you deal with it as a club; that’s vital.
“It’s not Armageddon. There is no sudden panic that we are not going to do well. It is disappointing but it’s the reality and we have to move on.
“We still look to build. We have signed Greg Tansey and we are looking to bring one or two more in before the end of the season. The work is on-going. We will continue to try and bring good players to the club.
“The longer things go, it’s not concerning so much but you do begin to think that maybe it’s not going to happen.
“Neither Ash Taylor (who is also out of contract) nor Ryan have said no. They are deliberating what they want to do and we’ll find out over the next week or two what will happen with what they want to do next season.”
Forward Jayden Stockley misses tonight’s match against Dundee at Dens Park through suspension, while defender Mark Reynolds (groin) remains sidelined.