Derek McInnes says- Cardiff need to get real!

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes tells Cardiff to get real if they want to snatch winger Jonny Hayes

If the Championship side come back with another offer, McInnes has made it crystal clear they’ll have to show a great deal more determination and financial realism if they aim to land him.


BY CRAIG SWAN

14 JAN 2017

Derek McInnes reckons clubs need to get real if they want his star man

Derek McInnes has warned Cardiff to get serious if they want to try to lure Jonny Hayes, writes Craig Swan in Dubai.

The Aberdeen boss spoke out after booting an offer reaching £500,000 from the Bluebirds for the winger into touch.

Cardiff came nowhere near McInnes ’ valuation of Hayes, but are now weighing up a return with an increased bid.

City boss Neil Warnock said yesterday: “We’ve made what we think is a realistic offer. I don’t know if we’ll go back in. You don’t put your eggs in one basket. We’ve got other offers in.”

But if Cardiff do come back, Pittodrie gaffer McInnes has made it crystal clear they’ll have to show a great deal more determination and financial realism if they aim to land the Irishman.

McInnes said: “If clubs have the same opinion of Jonny that I do then that falls way short of where we see him.

“So we stay as we are and we move on. I’ll talk through with Jonny the reasons why we rejected the bid and I don’t think he’ll be too surprised by our decision.

“Cardiff are in the market for a wide player and I think they’ve tried to go down a few different avenues to get one.

“But they’re going to have to show a bit more willingness if they want to get Jonny Hayes. He is such a key player for us and I don’t want to lose any player in the January window.

“If we’re going to lose players I’d much prefer it to be at the end of the season when I’d have time to make better decisions to get people in.

“That’s why in January managers make a lot of rash decisions, but we won’t be rushed into something we don’t want to do.”

McInnes is adamant he will never stand in the way of a player furthering his career or earning a bigger wage for their families.

But the boss says any deal has to be right for Aberdeen.

McInnes won't stand in the way of a player's wish
McInnes added: “A lot of the conversations I’ve had with the players is about trying to get on and better themselves financially. I have got to know the players in and out and have become close with them. I know their families and their situations. There is that part of it.

“But we also have to look after Aberdeen as a club. We’re midway through a season still with so much to play for. Now it’s like everything else, a bid of a certain level could make us change our mind.

“But we are strong in our feeling that we stay as we are, which is looking to add to the group in the window and now lose in the window. The timing has to be right for us as well.

“I intend to have Jonny for the two games we have in January and then the first game in February.

“Who knows if an offer comes in that we can’t say no to, but we’re nowhere near there yet and we hope we don’t get to that point.

“We feel strongly about keeping this squad in fact for as long as possible. Certainly for the remainder of the season.”

Aberdeen stars wave for the cameras in Dubai
McInnes, meanwhile, has held advanced talks over new deals with some of his stars at their base in Dubai.

Ryan Jack, Andrew Considine and Peter Pawlett are among those in discussions and the gaffer said: “We’re hopeful that when we go back to Aberdeen there will be some positive news.

“It’s a chance to use our time wisely here and sit down with a few of the players this week.

“But everybody who is out of contract is aware of that.

“They’re all aware of where they sit with me, whether we want them to commit and we’re speaking to them about the benefits of that, or me saying some players need to do more to earn a new deal.

“All the out of contract players are aware of where we stand.”

£500k seems fair to me and if NW has other targets then he should pursue them. If by the 31st no-one has signed I would give it one last punt and make a £650k take it or leave it offer.

£500k seems fair to me and if NW has other targets then he should pursue them. If by the 31st no-one has signed I would give it one last punt and make a £650k take it or leave it offer.

If Paul (PtB) is saying the guy is just a quicker version of Noone, then I think the fee spent should be pretty limited and it appears that's City/Warnock's thinking too!

I'm always disappointed at the limited overall impact that Noone has has since joining the City from Brighton. I recall we chased him for some time before getting him to sign and Brighton were gutted at the time...or were they really??

Noone was one of our best players in the Premier once he started playing regularly.....think it was after the Sunderland home game. However, he just hasn't improved a jot, in fact he's gone backwards, becoming very predictable and,crucially, not scoring this season.
You'd think Warnock would get him playing, but this hasn't happened.
His effort can't be faulted, but little end product.
Look at Berrens of Reading....Not lightning quick, but a really intelligent winger.

What I don't get it why did we do it so early in the transfer window?

If he's on 20k a week we would have paid him 80k in January, why not hold out for a fee for him?

The clubs interested didn't want to pay a fee and like you said we saved 80k just in january

Why can't we just use this approach? And get him for free?

Why don't we just get Hayes to ask Aberdeen if they can settle his contract and he can join us the next day for nothing. I worked for Immers and it will be great business for Aberdeen because they'll save on wages

Why don't we just get Hayes to ask Aberdeen if they can settle his contract and he can join us the next day for nothing. I worked for Immers and it will be great business for Aberdeen because they'll save on wages

Hi everyone, tin hat time I think for me

I'm an Aberdeen fan, and I think I can speak for all of us in saying that we really don't want Johnny to go anywhere. He is by far our best player in terms of effort and attacking threat, and is the key to us finishing second and qualifying for Europe again.

If the club sell him for anything less than 1.5mil there will be riots up here! Granted his head will be turned by you guys, as you could quadruple his wages over night. If he does go in this window we will wish him all the best, but with a heavy heart as he is very much a fans favourite, and we would be sad to see him go.

Good luck with the rest of the season, and I hope you guys manage to stay up, hopefully without Johnny ofc

To be honest, Nooone has lost his pace and when he had it, he was always a real threat - end product or not.
I'd be well happy with a pacey version of Nooone, particularly if we can ship the original model out.

There's an account on Twitter that is pretty on the button when it comes to Scottish football.

@AgentScotland suggested an hour ago that there is another bid imminent but there is no increase just an adjustment to pay more up front.

https://twitter.com/AgentScotland/statu ... 5187908609