Newcastle United and Stoke City are keeping tabs on Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove as the transfer window enters its final stages (Scottish Sun).
Cosgrove has 18 months left on his deal at Pittodrie and has not been short of offers during what has been an overall fruitful spell in the north-east. Newcastle United of the Premier League and Championship Stoke City are two clubs now interested.
Sam Cosgrove of Aberdeen is wanted by Newcastle United and Stoke City. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Potters boss Michael O’Neill watched the striker against Rangers last week and he has been a long-term admirer of Cosgrove, who has scored 47 Dons goals, with three of them in the Premiership this term.
Stoke could test Aberdeen with an offer for Cosgrove before the end of the month but Newcastle United are also thought to be keeping tabs on the situation as they assess new options in the forward area.
The striker turned down a £2.7million move to French side Guingamp in the summer as he opted for an extended stay in Scotland and Aberdeen are likely to want a fee in that region if they are to sell him this month.
Staying put. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, manager Derek McInnes has been left bitterly disappointed with the Dons after a 4-1 defeat to Ross County on Saturday: “It was a really poor opening. The way you start a game is so important and we didn’t start at all. It’s clearly not good enough to go behind after less than 40 seconds.
“It gives the team at the bottom of the league real encouragement and from there, their front three caused us some problems. Ross County deserve credit for how they played, it’s not just about it being a poor defensive performance from us.”