Aberdeen have received renewed optimism in their bid to bring forward Greg Stewart to Pittodrie.
Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp confirmed last week that the Dons, Dundee and Motherwell were among the clubs who have made enquiries about the 27-year-old.
Redknapp claimed those clubs would be unable to afford to pay the required percentage of Stewart’s wages to bring the player back north of the border.
But it is understood Aberdeen’s hopes of signing the player are far from dead and they remain well placed to land the former Dundee player.
They will face competition from Hearts and Hibernian as well as a number of clubs in England.
Stewart started only six times for the Blues in the Championship last season and has been told he does not have a future at St Andrews.
Stewart’s teammate Andrew Shinnie, the former Caley Thistle midfielder who spent last season on loan at Scottish Championship winners Hibernian, is also on the lookout for a new club, despite having a year left on his deal at Birmingham.
Blues manager Redknapp confirmed yesterday that the club is yet to receive any formal offers for either player.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is desperate to bring some fresh blood to the club before the first team returns for pre-season training on Monday.
The Dons appear to have already missed out on two of their reported transfer targets.
Shaun Maloney is expected to sign a one year extension at Hull City this week, while Ross County forward Liam Boyce opted to join Burton Albion rather than consider a move to Pittodrie.
One Aberdeen player who is hoping for new arrivals is forward Miles Storey.
The former Caley Thistle player endured a disappointing first season at Pittodrie and is keen to move on with Kilmarnock a likely destination.
However the Dons will not sanction a move until new recruits have been found for their threadbare squad.
The Dons have to submit their squad for their Europa League second qualifying round tie against either Ordabasy or NK Siroki Brijeg by July 7. There would be scope to add one more player to the squad if a transfer is completed by midnight the day before the first leg.
UEFA have confirmed that Aberdeen will play at home in the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie.
The match will take place at Pittodrie on Thursday, July 13 with the return leg in Kazakhstan or Bosnia a week later.