Aberdeen will make a sensational move for Robert Snodgrass – if the former Scotland star decides on a return to his homeland.
The Pittodrie club are keen on the 34-year-old, who is a free agent after leaving West Brom last month.
Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass has made Snodgrass a key post-window target and captain Scott Brown – close with the midfielder from his Scotland days – helped make the Pittodrie side's case.
However Snodgrass also has interest from other clubs in the English Championship and if that turns into an offer it is likely that the former West Ham and Leeds player will remain south of the border.
Snodgrass is currently assessing his options.
Ironically, Snodgrass left West Brom just days before old Hull and Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce took the reins however whether that door will reopen remains to be seen.
Shaun Maloney of Hibs and Dundee’s James McPake would also be keen should Snodgrass indicate he sees himself returning to Scotland.
Glass revealed last week that he was looking at a couple of out-of-contract players and they were trying to convince them to move to Pittodrie.
He is also looking at an out-of-contract striker to provide competition and back-up for top scorer Christian Ramirez, with Marley Watkins injured.
Glass previously said: “There’s a couple of things out there we’re looking at the moment to see if we can do it and to see if we’re attractive to those players.”
The Aberdeen gaffer has told his under-fire squad they need to take care of Celtic and march on against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup to make up for their Livingston let-down.
The Dons came under fire as they lost 2-1 to the Lions on Saturday.
The defeat continued their poor away form and left them in the bottom half, although still within touching distance of the top four.
Glass and his team have taken heat for a campaign that has failed to hit the heights or match the club’s lofty expectations.
The manager knows his side now face a big week with table-topping Celts at Pittodrie tomorrow and then a possible season-defining clash at Fir Park.
The Cup is the last possible chance to put a silver-lining on a season that has so far failed to get off the ground and Glass admitted: “We are letting people down week-on-week at the minute.
“The fortunate thing is that a lot of the teams around us are in the same position, they can’t win.
“If somebody jumps on then they should be where they should be but we need to be better.
“The players know that. There is an opportunity to put it right because we have Celtic at home and then a huge cup game. The players know how it feels. It can’t keep happening.”
The Dons chief accepted that the defeat at Livi was a sore one and a jolt to the system. He knows nothing can be done about that now but they can’t allow their standards to drop.
Glass said: “Days like Saturday gave them a real jolt and they feel how important it is. We are all aware of it but the shock to the system, getting beat and the reaction of the fans is tough and you don’t want to replicate.
“It is a tough time in the season coming up and we need to make sure we look after it properly.”
The Aberdeen boss has backed his players for the majority of the season but was critical of them after their trip to Livi and reckons it should be a wake-up call.
He said: “It’s mentality and thinking we are slightly better than we are and not handling the ugly side of the game. We didn’t look like a team early on.”
