Jim Goodwin has revealed Aberdeen signed Duk for free but he’s certain his old club will rake in millions when they decide to sell him.
The former Dons boss signed the in-demand striker from Benfica in the summer and he has proved to be the bargain of the season with clubs across the continent and England tracking him. The Aberdeen frontman’s 18 goals has made him hot property with Everton, Spezia and Bologna, as well as several English Championship sides linked with him.
Burnley were also reported to be interested but sources confirmed the Premier League-bound club won’t make a move. Goodwin, now Dundee United gaffer, confirmed Dons struck a deal to get the Cape Verde international for nothing but the Portuguese giants wanted a significant sell-on fee. Duk has since confirmed Benfica are due 50 per cent of any future Dons sale. Goodwin said: “Duk didn’t cost a penny but there’s a substantial amount that needs to go to Benfica if he progresses.
"It’s common sense from Benfica’s point of view because he wasn’t going to play for them and the Premiership is a great place for them to market him as well. So it’s win-win for everyone and if Duk gets to the 20-goal mark, the target I set in the summer, there will be a hell of a lot of clubs domestically and on the European front targeting him.
"I know they are targeting him already because I have had conversations with his agent and he thanked us for bringing him to the country. Where he goes will be up to Duk – but either way it’s great business. I’m happy for him on a personal level, as a young player coming here to adapt to Scottish football. He must be worth millions to Aberdeen.”
Goodwin might have signed the-then unknown Duk but he is adamant all the credit must go to head of recruitment Darren Mowbray. The former Burnley scout spotted him playing for Benfica B and immediately placed him on the Pittodrie transfer radar.
Dons were in the market for two strikers as Goodwin wanted to move away from the over-reliance on Christian Ramirez. North Macedonian ace Bojan Miovski also came in from MTK Budapest, alongside Duk.
Goodwin said: “Darren Mowbary spotted Duk playing a reserve game for Benfica. We put him on the list of strikers for last summer. We needed two and felt Miovski and Duk were the two best options available. There was a significant outlay on Miovski but Duk didn’t cost a penny.
“Darren has a crucial role to play in recruitment up there and I learned plenty from him. I was very hands-on at St Mirren and going into Aberdeen I wanted to have that involvement because you always worry going to these bigger clubs you lose a bit of control.
“But thankfully that wasn’t the case. I was assured I’d have the final say on comings and goings.”
The Irishman was criticised for his defensive recruitment at Aberdeen and that eventually led to his downfall but nobody can argue with some of the attacking talent he has taken to the Granite City. Goodwin, feels he can look back on a lot of his signings with pride, with keeper Kelle Roos and Ylber Ramadani also shining.
He said: “I take pride in the recruitment we did, pretty much every player that’s there bar Angus MacDonald is someone we brought in. Kelle has come back in and been brilliant, Ramadani has been very consistent so it’s not just Duk, he’s the one grabbing all the headlines just now.”
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