Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes still craves a striker but the Dons boss insists the chance to sign Ross McCrorie was an opportunity the club could not turn down.
The Dons last night completed the signing of midfielder McCrorie on a four-year deal with the player moving to the club on a season loan initially from Rangers.
The move will become permanent next summer with McCrorie’s deal taking him up to 2024.
Attacking reinforcements remain the priority for McInnes after loan striker Ryan Edmondson was ruled out for four months with an ankle injury while Sam Cosgrove and Curtis Main are also sidelined.
But the Dons boss is thrilled to have Scotland under-21 international McCrorie on board.
He said: “The priorities remain elsewhere on the pitch because we are struggling with a number nine due to the injuries we’ve had.
“We will continue to try get one that will fit the bill for us in the short-term, but, certainly, after speaking to the chairman everyone saw the merit of getting Ross, for the long-term planning.
“He’s a young, Scottish player with real value and we feel we can help him develop, find a home here and fulfil his potential.”
McCrorie burst onto the scene at Rangers but has dropped down the pecking order at Ibrox under Steven Gerrard and spent last season on loan at Portsmouth.
The player’s desire to play first-team football prompted him to ask to leave Ibrox and Hibernian were leading the race for his signature after making two bids for the player before the Dons moved to the front of the queue at the weekend.
McInnes said: “He is the type of signing we should be doing at this club, a young Scottish talent and somebody that I have admired for a couple of seasons.
“Every transfer window that came up I was always keen to see exactly where he was in the pecking order there.
“Obviously he had a loan spell at Portsmouth last season and when the opportunity came – obviously we’re restricted what we can do in terms of spending a fee – but when the opportunity came any fee could be delayed till next season we were delighted to try at least have that chance to bring him here.
“Once we got the opportunity and permission to speak to him I couldn’t be more impressed with the boy.”
Aberdeen have agreed an undisclosed fee for the midfielder, who can also play in central defence and right back, and McInnes believes the investment is one which will pay off for the club.
He said: “I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have worked with him before and a lot of our lads know him from the international setup and a lot of my staff have been involved with him at the U21’s and always spoke highly of him as a boy.
“I think you can see it, I don’t know him as well as I am going to know him.
“I think I know what he is and what he brings is real stature, a young Scottish talent, 22 years of age coming to us in a four year deal.
“We couldn’t have been more pleased with that signing.”
