Aberdeen boss Barry Robson has revealed he is set to assess the Pittodrie future of loan players Rhys Williams and Or Dadia, while also confirming frozen-out Vicente Besuijen is working hard in training but “other players are ahead of him”.
Robson also revealed the Dons remain in dialogue with midfielder Connor Barron regarding a new contract.
The Dons boss insists the club “are trying to get some positive news as quickly as we can” on Barron, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Williams, Dadia and Besuijen have yet to play any Premiership minutes for the Reds this term.
Centre-back Williams was secured on a season long loan from Liverpool and has Champions League group stage experience with the Anfield club.
Full-back Dadia arrived on a season-loan from Israeli top-flight club Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Aberdeen have the exclusive option to buy the Israel international following the loan spell.
Playmaker Besuijen was initially a key first-team star under the manager who signed him, Stephen Glass, but has since fallen down the pecking order.
Talking at the club’s 120th AGM at Pittodrie, Robson addressed the situation with Dadia and Williams.
He said: “They are some things we are looking at, at the moment.
“Rhys came up injured and has struggled.
“Stefan Gartenmann came in along with Richard Jensen and they have both done well, so Rhys has found it tough to get into the team.
“Or Dadia is a lovely guy.
“It is not easy coming into a new team and culture.
“The emergence of Jack Milne has been a big plus.
“It (loan deal) is something we are looking at and we will decide on closer to that time.”
Liverpool reportedly consider Williams recall
Liverpool are reportedly considering recalling Williams from the Dons loan spell in January to ease a defensive crisis.
Williams, 22, has only featured once for the Dons when starting the 2-1 League Cup defeat of Stirling Albion on August 18.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been hit by defensive injury problems and young players have been asked to deputise.
That could see Klopp trigger the recall clause on Williams’ loan deal rather than than dip into the January transfer market for back-up.
Robson addresses Besuijen situation
Dutch winger Besuijen has not featured so far this season and was omitted from the Dons’ squad for the Europa Conference League campaign.
Besuijen, who is under contract until the summer of 2026, has scored nine goals in 42 appearances for the Dons.
He joined the club from ADO Den Haag in January last year.
The attacking midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam – but made only two appearances due to injury.
Robson said: “Vicente has been really good and has worked hard in training.
“He has had some other players ahead of him in the way we are trying to do things.
“He is working so hard in training.”
Dons trying to get ‘positive news as quickly as we can’ on Barron contract talks
Aberdeen are still locked in discussions with Scotland under-21 international Barron on a new deal.
With his current contract set to expire at the end of the season, Barron will be free to talk to any interested clubs when the January transfer window opens.
The Dons initially opened talks with the Pittodrie youth academy graduate and his representative more than a year ago.
A deal was offered, but there was no resolution. Now they are back around the table.
Barron broke into the Dons’ first team in January 2021, having been recalled from a loan spell at Kelty Hearts.
He became one of the Reds’ standout performers in the second half of that campaign.
That form saw Barron on the radar of Celtic, English Premier League side Brentford and Belgian club Genk during last summer’s transfer window.
However, Barron suffered a frustrating 2022-23 campaign due to injury.
He is now fully fit and has impressed again this season.
Robson said: “I was lucky enough to take him through with me (at the youth academy).
“Connor went through some injury struggles, but we managed to get a proper pre-season under him.
“We’ve started to see him grow and back to himself.
“We are in dialogue with Connor regarding a contract.
“We are trying to get some positive news as quickly as we can.”
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