Aberdeen have been one of the busier SPFL clubs this summer with boss Jim Goodwin overseeing an entire squad rebuild. From last season's disastrous campaign Declan Gallagher, Funso Ojo and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas have all been released while the club have the potential to land up to £11million through the club record sale of Calvin Ramsay to Liverpool and Lewis Ferguson's switch to Bologna.
Some of that money has already been spent with seven players coming in to date. Anthony Stewart, Bojan Miovski, Jayden Richardson, Liam Scales, Luis 'Duk' Lopes, Kelle Roos and Ylber Ramadani all make up Goodwin's new look side.
But now it's David Bates who could be the latest to head towards the Pittodrie exit door just a year after signing from Hamburg. Bates hasn't played a minute of the Dons three Premier Sports Cup games so far and has been linked with a move down to England. Ipswich, Derby County and Bristol City have all been touted as possible destinations.
Goodwin has opted to develop the central defensive partnership of club captain Stewart and Celtic loanee Scales. And despite Scales being unable to feature against his parent club in the opening game of the Scottish Premiership season, it looks evident that Bates will be overlooked to replace him in the side.
Aberdeen defeated Stirling Albion in a 5-0 rout at Forthbank on Tuesday night to keep up their unbeaten start to the competitive season with clean sheets kept in each game. Goodwin changed the system in the second half with Ross McCrorie given the nod to partner Stewart in defence.
Young starlet Jack Milne who can play in both defence and midfield has also been given game time ahead of Bates. There could still be at least three more incomings to Pittodrie if Goodwin's recent comments are to be believed.
He said: "I think we lack a bit of creativity in the midfield area. I think we just need a No.10 that is going to be that one to unlock the opposition when teams are sitting in against us.
"I still would like another quick winger. I am always wanting to add pace to the team, that's the way the modern game is now at this moment in time. You need to have good pace and good energy in the forward areas, in the attacking areas."
Fleetwood winger, valued at £500,000, Shayden Morris is the latest player to be linked with a move to the Granite City as the Dons recruitment team search far and wide for quality reinforcements. Hibernian are also linked with Morris but if history is to be repeated then the north east outfit will fancy their chances of landing their man after beating the Easter Road side to a long list of targets.
Connor Ronan played under Goodwin at St Mirren and has constantly been linked with a move to work with his old boss again but, amid interest from Hearts. He has joined Wolves' pre-season tour but didn't feature in their 4-0 friendly win over Alaves which shows where he stands in the pecking order under Bruno Lage at at Molineux.
And the former Buddies boss alluded to the fact he was in talks with players he had previously managed in a pre-match interview with BBC on Tuesday night. He said: "I’m talking to a couple of my ex-players," with Wigan's Jamie McGrath another Irishman who played under Goodwin in Paisley.
After enduring their worst season since 2004, the signings made will be giving the Red Army a reason for optimism that they can be back challenging for European football at the top end of the table under Goodwin's leadership.
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