LOUIS MOULT will forever be grateful to Motherwell for giving him the stage to display his talents, but he hopes they will not renege on an agreement to allow him to move to a bigger club.

Aberdeen, who have lost the supply and goal-power of Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes, want Moult to boost their attacking threat but their initial bid of £350,000 falls considerably short of the valuation Motherwell place upon him.

The Fir Park club feel they need to be adequately compensated for a player whose 15 goals were crucial to their continued presence in the Premiership last season given that relegation would have cost the club around £1.5m.

However, with the 25-year-old out of contract in 12 months, he could negotiate a Bosman deal in January so Aberdeen feel they can force Motherwell’s hand.

Moult said: “When I signed for Motherwell, they sold the club to me by saying it’s a platform to go on and do better things.

“They said their aim was to sell me on to make money for the football club as, at the end of the day, it’s a business.

“I’d like to think they will stick to their word if something does happen and it does appeal to me.

“Coming to Motherwell has been fantastic for me and my career. If you were to tell me when I was leaving Wrexham in 2015 that I would achieve what I have then I'd have bitten your hand off.

“They have been a great club for me and they’re a club I will always have a huge place in my heart for, whatever happens.

“They have given me a platform to build on and I like to think I have done that.

“My profile has got bigger and I have Motherwell to thank for that.

“Before I speak to anyone, the bid has to be accepted. That’s the way football works.

“I have one year left on my contract and I’m very grateful that people are looking at me and talking about me.

“A few years ago I was part-time and playing for Nuneaton in the Conference, so this is crazy. I’m so grateful to be able to stand here and talk about these things.”

Moult, who is still recovering from a small groin operation and will not feature against Queen’s Park in the Betfred Cup on Saturday, is confident he can take the next step in his career and Derek McInnes hopes it will be in the red of Aberdeen.

He added: “I’m a confident player and wherever I may play I believe I will score goals.

“Strikers are better when they are confident. I have scored against almost every side I’ve come up against in Scotland and if someone had said that to me before then I’d have bitten their hand off.

“You have to be confident when you’re a striker but it helps when you score against the big boys and it’s on TV.

“I have achieved up until now and hopefully I can go on achieving.”

Moult, who has scored 36 goals in two seasons for Motherwell, knows his stock has never been higher as Motherwell are desperate to retain his services.

He added: “The lads in the dressing room have been having a laugh and asking why I’m not away yet.

“They have all expressed that they want me to stay and the manager has done so as well. What a feeling that is, I am feeling loved and it’s a fantastic feeling for me.

“It’s also a lovely feeling to have people interested in me so if you had told me that three years ago then I’d have laughed at you.

“I’d like to think I have worked hard for the opportunities that I maybe will get or whether I stay at Motherwell as it’s a massive honour for me.”

Motherwell, meanwhile, are closely monitoring the interest in their former winger Marvin Johnson, whom they sold to Oxford United last year for over £550,000.

It is understood that Leicester City, Derby County and Reading are keen on the winger and Motherwell cleverly negotiated a 25 per cent sell-on clause.

They could be in line for a considerable windfall which, coupled with the potential Moult cash, would be hugely beneficial.