Aberdeen have joined the growing list of clubs on the trail of Falkirk midfielder Craig Sibbald.
Bairns midfielder Sibbald, 21, is out of contract at the Championship club at the end of the season and is attracting the interest of several clubs in Scotland as well as England.
Sibbald, who took his tally for the season to seven with his double in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Raith Rovers, is also being tracked by Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and English Championship club Nottingham Forest.
Dons manager Derek McInnes is keen to strengthen his squad this month and insists no stone will be left unturned in his search.
Callum Morris has departed Pittodrie, while Craig Storie has joined St Mirren on loan for the rest of the season as McInnes makes room for new arrivals at the club.
McInnes, who flies out with his squad to Dubai today for a warm weather training camp, is targeting a Scottish Cup win and a second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership in 2017 and he has not ruled out adding to his squad before the January 31 window closes.
The Dons expect midfielder James Maddison to return for the rest of the campaign on loan from Norwich and McInnes would like to add to his squad.
He said: “We have a strong squad and everyone is fit but that doesn’t mean we are not looking around to see what else is out there and whether someone is available who we feel can improve the squad.
“If someone is available then we will try to bring them in but I’m content with the squad at the club.
“We have given ourselves a chance of being successful by putting ourselves in a good position in the league and we want to win the Scottish Cup. Because of that it is important we continue to look for possible new faces.”
The Dons are two points off second-placed Rangers, having played a game less than the Light Blues, after picking up 13 points from seven games in December.
The Aberdeen manager believes the break came at a good time for his side after another early start to the campaign due to the Europa League but he knows his players must maintain the club’s momentum in the second half of the season.
He said: “The players accept we cannot achieve what we want this season with just 11 players and the squad accepts that. It was unrealistic to think every player will play every minute of every game especially in a month like December where we were challenged physically and mentally.
“There were opportunities for the bulk of the squad last month and there will be more to come in the second half of the season.”
The Dons have confirmed their friendly in Dubai against FC Bunyodkor, of Uzbekistan, will be held at the Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence in Dubai on Sunday.
The match kicks off at noon British time.
