Rival Scottish Premiership manager Derek McInnes is resigned to losing Aberdeen forward Scott Wright amid interest from Rangers.
The Ibrox club have made their intentions with Wright, 23, clear as Steven Gerrard admitted that the club were “extremely close” to signing a pre-contract deal for the winger [Rangers].
It’s not clear if a deal will be concluded this month with talk of a potential swap deal or the reduction in transfer fee for the Dons’ Ibrox loanee Ross McCrorie mooted as January makeweights.
But McInnes is clear that he’s come to terms with the fact Wright won’t be an Aberdeen player next season even if he doesn’t think it’s the right time for the forward to be moving on.
“You learn to deal with it and move on,” said McInnes [STV].
“It’s about trying to keep those departures to a minimum.
“We’ve already lost Scott McKenna this season, who was arguably our best defender for a club-record fee.
“Yet we’ve probably this season had a goals-against record that has been as good as any we’ve had.
“It shows there can be coping mechanisms. I’d much rather have Scott McKenna in my team, of course, he’s an international player who will only get better.
“But we deal with that the best way we can.
“Some players leave and it’s a big hole to fill. We’ll try with whatever players we lose between now and next season to carry on because that’s the way it is here.
“We want to develop players and move them on to bigger and better things.
“But we want that on the back of them playing and contributing to Aberdeen’s first team for a period of time. That’s the only frustration if Scott isn’t to re-sign with us.
“I feel that it’s that bit too early for him.”
Rangers manager Gerrard previously described signing Wright in January as a “bonus” but as it stands all parties are tight-lipped over any potential deal this month.
Here’s how Derek McInnes reacted when asked about a potential swap deal as he pointed out two Rangers players he’d take at Aberdeen in a heartbeat.
