Boss Barry Robson has confirmed he will undertake a “huge rebuild” of the Aberdeen squad during the summer transfer window.
The Dons are on a seven-game winning streak under Robson, but he is still planning big changes for next season.
Robson was confirmed as the club’s permanent manager this week when signing a two-year contract until summer 2025.
However, the 44-year-old revealed he has been in constant dialogue with the Dons’ recruitment team since the day he was initially appointed interim boss in late January.
As well as searching for new signings, Robson confirmed the Reds are locked in talks with players on loan and those with deals set to expire at the of the season.
The Pittodrie gaffer says there are players he wants to retain, while others will likely exit this summer in search of game time.
Dons in talks over Shinnie move
Aberdeen have opened up talks with Wigan Athletic on securing captain Graeme Shinnie on a permanent contract this summer.
Shinnie, 31, is on loan until the end of the campaign and has a year left on his Wigan deal.
Wigan were relegated from the Championship last weekend and are open to selling Shinnie, but it is understood they want a six-figure fee.
Aberdeen are also keen on retaining loan stars Leighton Clarkson (Liverpool), Mattie Pollock (Watford) and Liam Scales (Celtic).
Robson said: “I don’t think it’s a secret there’s a huge rebuild needed.
“With the amount of loan players here, some players out of contract and some who haven’t featured.
“There are obviously some players here we really think highly of. And some who might have opportunities to go somewhere else.
“I have been speaking every day with the recruitment team for the last few months about different players and how we want to recruit.
“We have been on this for a while.
“Hopefully we can keep some players and take some in to keep building.
“I’ve been looking through it in the last couple of months and I know where we want to go with this.
“I’m looking forward to it, but we need a bit of patience and time with that.
“It’s a difficult thing to do, but I want to bring stability – that’s the most important thing.”
Eight loan stars scheduled to exit
Aberdeen currently have eight players with loan deals set to expire at the end of the season.
Loan stars Shinnie, Clarkson, Pollock and Scales have all been first-team starters in Aberdeen’s seven-game winning run under Robson.
Also with loan deals set to expire are Jay Gorter (Ajax), Hayden Coulson (Middlesbrough), Dilan Markanday (Blackburn Rovers) and Patrick Myslovic (MSK Zilina).
All four have had limited game-time under Robson.
The Dons gaffer recently confirmed he rates midfielder Myslovic very highly.
Aberdeen hold the exclusive right to sign Myslovic on a permanent deal from Slovakian club Zilina this summer if they want to retain the 21-year-old.
‘I had to make decisions the first day I came in’
Robson was appointed interim manager following the sacking of Jim Goodwin on January 28.
Three months later, the Dons board handed Robson and assistant Steve Agnew the permanent managerial reins until at least the end of the 2024/25 season.
Robson’s future may have been uncertain until now, but he continued to work on the club’s future.
Robson has been in constant talks with club’s recruitment team – Steven Gunn (director of football) and Darren Mowbray (head of recruitment).
Within days of his interim appointment, Robson sanctioned the loan move of captain and centre-half Anthony Stewart to MK Dons until the end of the season.
He then signed Angus MacDonald on a short-term deal. Centre-back MacDonald recently penned a two year contract extension.
Robson said: “I have been in constant contact with the recruitment team from day one when I came in.
“Obviously I had to make some decisions on the first day I came in.
“We know where we want to go. I’m not saying we will get there, but we will try.”
Other players with deals set to expire
Aberdeen have 12 players with their futures up in the air at the end of the season.
As well as the eight loan players, there are four senior players with contracts set to expire.
Winger Matty Kennedy and attacker Marley Watkins are both set to go out of contract.
Midfielder Dean Campbell and winger Connor McLennan also have deals set to expire, but are currently out on loan at Stevenage and St Johnstone, respectively.
Robson is reluctant to go into the specifics of his rebuilding regarding which players will stay at Pittodrie, and who will exit.
He said: “It is hard to go into detail and speak about everyone we have at the moment through respect to them, their clubs and their agents.
“We have been over a lot of things and have had a lot of conversations already.
“We are in constant dialogue with loan players, signed players, other players and the younger players. Them all.”
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