Aberdeen’s efforts to tie down Charlie Mulgrew to commit to a new deal toughened yesterday as they made him a final “exceptional” offer.

The full-back, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is top of the list of ­players Mark McGhee, the manager, wants to remain at Pittodrie. However, Willie Miller, the club’s director of football, made it plain that he is in no mood to allow talks to drag on and called on the former Celtic and Wolverhampton Wanderers player to reach a decision soon.

“Charlie Mulgrew has been made a take-it-or-leave-it offer,” said Miller. “Although he is out of contract at the end of the season, there will be no more offers made to him after this one.

“It is a revised and exceptional one and now we are looking for an answer. He is a young player who still has a lot to learn and we want to be part of his development.

“If his decision is a positive one, we will be delighted as he is a key player. But if it is a negative one then we will move on and begin the search for a replacement.”

Miller said the club were working hard to keep Aberdeen’s promising youngsters at the club. “All these players such as Peter Pawlett, Chris Maguire, Michael Paton and Fraser Fyvie have contracts,” he said, “but we want these to be extended. Hopefully, Charlie and the young lads can provide us with good news.”