Aberdeen have been left furious by the temerity of Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest in trying to sign Scott McKenna at the very end of the English transfer window.
The defender is set to start tonight for Aberdeen in Rijeka, but it is understood that he has been hankering for a move away from Pittodrie all summer. This came to a head when he submitted an official transfer request at the weekend, which was rejected.
The window closes south of the border at 5pm tonight. Given that Aberdeen are not set to kick off until two hours after that, they could be left in a desperate situation should an English side match the Dons’ valuation of the player.
Aberdeen told potential suitors that they would welcome bids for McKenna on Tuesday, before they travelled to Croatia yesterday. However, an official bid by Wednesday yesterday was met with contempt by the Aberdeen board.
“The team is picked and he [McKenna] is playing,” said McInnes. “We did our preparation in Aberdeen yesterday morning and unless I am told differently then Scott will be playing. It is hardly ideal preparation.
READ MORE: English Transfer Deadline Day: The latest news and gossip
“It is a Europa League game, a very important game, and these clubs have had the whole summer to do a deal and there is a degree of anger, frustration and contempt towards these clubs for trying to put their best foot forward now. Until somebody tells me that an offer is accepted then Scott will play tonight.”
Aberdeen are close to signing Zak Vyner, the Bristol City defender, on a loan deal, but McInnes remains confident that McKenna’s performance will not be affected, should he remain an Aberdeen player.
“I have spoken to Scott, probably, more than any other player in the last couple of weeks,” said McInnes. “He, obviously, has had a lot to content with and there is a degree of sympathy from myself but he is an Aberdeen player and he has to continue to act like an Aberdeen player and to perform for us, unless I am told differently.
“No doubt his move and everything will come for him in his career. Whether it comes in this window, clubs have had weeks, the whole summer to put their best foot forward, to try and get him. If it doesn’t happen in this window then I am pretty sure it will happen in the near future.”
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