Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes wants to keep Jeff Monakana at the club until the summer.
The on-loan Brighton midfielder has yet to make a starting appearance for the Dons but McInnes is pleased with Monakana’s progress and hopes he can extend the player’s loan until the end of the season.
The issue has become clouded due to the absence of a management team at the English Championship club following Sami Hyypia’s resignation.
He said: “Talks are ongoing with regards to Jeff’s situation but I’m not sure whether he will stay. His deal here expires on January 5 but I think he has shown he has something to offer us.
“It has been difficult for him as the team has come into a run of form just when his own performances have picked up and his fitness issues have been overcome.
“He is a brilliant boy to work with and in an ideal world both ourselves and Jeff would like to continue working but we don’t know if that is possible yet.”
December has been a good month for McInnes, with his side enjoying a five-match winning run in the league and six players commiting to the club with new deals.
Jonny Hayes and Andy Considine are the latest duo to extend their stays at Pittodrie and McInnes hopes securing his players future will ensure other clubs do not come calling for their services.
He said: “I’d be naive not to think other clubs are looking at the players here and we’ve also given ourselves security by signing the players to new deals. Hopefully, in doing that clubs will be encouraged to look elsewhere.
“All the guys we’ve signed up are between 21 and 27 and the nucleus of the squad is tied up. The majority of the starting 11 are here for the long term but we are not ruling out adding to this squad.
“The players we have here have all done well for me but they are also players who we believe can improve.
“Players sign for loads of reasons. They sign for their own security, whether it is financial or otherwise, but mostly they sign for a club because they believe they can do well and be successful.”