Derek McInnes has confirmed talks have taken place with St. Johnstone captain Joy Shaughnessy over a summer move to Pittodrie – but does it mean Dons’ lynchpin Scott McKenna is on the way out?
McKenna has been vital for the Dons in recent seasons but is seemingly very much in demand.
Celtic have regularly been linked, according to the Daily Mail, while the Daily Record think he could be that he could instead head for Aston Villa.
Either way, it doesn’t look like he’ll be a Don much longer.
Derek McInnes might put a sizeable amount into the club’s coffers but he’s unlikely to see any of it for transfers.
Bringing Shaughnessy back is still a good move and McInnes admitted that an offer has been made to the St. Johnstone captain.
“We’ve spoken with Joe’s agent,” he said, as quoted by BT Sport.
“We’ve notified Tommy (Wright) about that. We’re entitled to do that, and we’ve made an offer to Joe to bring him back to the club. Hopefully that can be the case but at the moment he has other things to explore and staying at St. Johnstone is still an option for him.”
Saints have also made an offer to the defender in a bid to keep him in Perth.
The Irishman spent six years at Pittodrie as a player, leaving in 2015, but only managed 59 appearances.
Since moving to McDiarmid Park, he’s played 158 games and was appointed captain in 2017.
Shaughnessy is a much better player since leaving Aberdeen and would slot straight into the Dons’ defence.
At 26, he should just be hitting his peak and it would be an ideal opportunity for him.
With clubs circling around McKenna it’s only a matter of time before he heads somewhere new.
Bringing Shaugnessy in would be a solid replacement and help the Dons challenge at the top of the table.