Aberdeen to spend again in January transfer market as board back Jimmy Thelin to the hilt
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin will be given more money to spend this month in a bid to get his side back firing again.
The Dons have already twice splashed out big six-figure transfer fees – on Kristers Tobers and Alexander Jensen – as he eyes taking down Rangers for the second time. They have also brought in Alfie Dorrington on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Jeppe Okkels from Preston, which also includes an option to buy in the summer for a seven-figure fee.
Thelin and recruitment team are actively still working on a number of options, including strengthening their frontline options. Ester Sokler is out for several months although Pape Habib Gueye should be back after the Scottish Cup game at Elgin, to take some of the weight off the shoulders of Kevin Nisbet.
January is a notoriously difficult window to land top strikers but head of recruitment Nuno de Almeida is burning the midnight oil bringing options to the table from the UK, Europe and even Asia. The message from Thelin is it has to fit his player profile and the way he wants to be play as he attempts to improve the talented squad he already has at Pittodrie.
Thelin admitted: “We want to build a long-term process from day one. We have talked about it. We have a clear plan of what we want to achieve, how we want the team to look in the future. Everything is clear for us, what we have to do. Then there’s a timeline.
“Sometimes it’s just like this and everything changes. We are still working against that goal and trying to be better in every department, stronger as a team and stronger as a club. From that point of view, we are on the same path as everyone. We are trying to help each other to be that strong team and the strong club we want to be.”
The Dons have been linked with a move for Bristol City defender Kai Naismith but he is not currently an option for them. Meanwhile, Thelin believes the win over Rangers has been the pinnacle of his time at Aberdeen and would love to make it another ultimate high with a win at Ibrox.
The Dons beat Philippe Clement’s side 2-1 in a sell-out win at Pittodrie back in October. Since then Rangers have climbed back above them as Aberdeen have gone into an 11 game streak without a win.
Thelin knows victory would be a big one for everyone connected with the club. He said: “You know how much it means for everyone. It’s an important game, an exciting game to play. You want to give everything you can for your supporters, because we know how important it is for everyone. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
When Aberdeen beat Rangers they moved nine points clear of them but now it is their rivals you have that same lead. Thelin stated: “We focus on game by game. That’s what we have to focus on because we have to focus on where we are right now and try to win the next game. There’s no difference in that from the beginning of the season.”
