Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has made reinforcing the defence the pressing priority following Anthony O’Connor’s decision to leave the Dons.
The former Burton Albion defender informed McInnes of his decision to move on yesterday in favour of a return to English football and will complete a move to Bradford City today.
The Bantams, who are without a manager, have agreed a three-year deal with the Dons defender, who is out of contract, and the player will undergo a medical at the English League One club.
O’Connor becomes the second central defender to leave the Dons since the end of the season following Iceland international Kari Arnason’s release.
McInnes has options on the left with Scott McKenna’s emergence last season adding to the options alongside Mark Reynolds and Andy Considine, who has shifted from central defence to the left-back position.
The Dons manager has moved quickly to reinforce his midfield options with Chris Forrester joining the club from Peterborough United while a tribunal will decide a fee for Hamilton Accies midfielder Lewis Ferguson after the Dons and Accies failed to agree a compensation figure for the teenager.
Stephen Gleeson is also close to completing a move to Pittodrie after his contract at Championship side Ipswich Town expired.
The immediate area in need of attention now, however, is the right side of defence. Dominic Ball, who served as back-up to Shay Logan at right-back during his loan at Pittodrie last season from Rotherham, is unlikely to return as he is keen on exploring options to remain in England.
The Aberdeen boss had hoped to entice Jason Naismith to Pittodrie from Ross County but Peterborough United won the race for the right-back on Tuesday as he completed a £250,000 move to England.
Ball, Arnason and O’Connor’s departure leaves Logan as the only recognised right-back in the first team squad and January signing Mikey Devlin is the sole right-footed central defender.
The former Hamilton Accies captain has yet to kick a ball for the club following a cruciate ligament injury sustained in May, 2017, but is expected to join his Dons team-mates for pre-season training.
The Dons will find out their Europa League opponents on Wednesday when the draw for the second qualifying round is made by Uefa ahead of Aberdeen’s return to pre-season training next Friday.