Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has confirmed he will have the scope to pay transfer fees for signings in the summer if needed.
Goodwin insists he will not be restricted to the free agent market in transfer window.
The Dons boss says if a ‘very good talent’ requires a fee he can stake a claim to the Pittodrie board to stump up the cash.
Goodwin insists the Dons’ willingness to invest in talent was underlined by the capture of Vicente Besuijen in the January transfer window.
Aberdeen paid €500,000 (£420,000) to sign winger Besuijen from Dutch second tier side ADO Den Haag.
Secured on a four-and-a-half year contract Besuijen has impressed since arriving at Pittodrie.
Goodwin said: “We’re not just looking at the free agent market.
“If we identify a very good talent, like they did with Vicente Besuijen, we can stake a case to the board that we think there is value in making a bid for a particular player.
“That ability is there.
“The playing budget is very strong, very competitive.
“I’m satisfied with the budget that has been made available to me.”
Signings secured for pre-season
Aberdeen have been linked with Ipswich Town keeper Vaclav Hladky.
Czech Republic stopper Hladky, 31, has two years left on his contract at Ipswich so it would take a transfer fee to land him.
Ipswich are understood to be open to selling Hladky in the summer as he has lost the No.1 shirt and not played this year.
The Reds have also been linked with St Mirren defender Charles Dunne.
Contracted to the Buddies for another year it would take a six-figure sum to secure the left sided stopper.
Aberdeen are scouring Europe for signing targets.
Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray has visited multiple countries including Germany, Netherlands and Poland in recent months.
Goodwin aims to have the vast majority of his signings secured before the Dons return for pre-season.
Aberdeen are scheduled to return for pre-season training in mid-June.
The Reds’ 2022-23 campaign begins with a Premiers Sports Cup group stage tie on July 9 or 10.
Rebuild to get Dons back on track
In February Goodwin was drafted in as manager and tasked with securing a top six finish and European qualification.
The Dons will finish in the Premiership bottom six for the first time since 2013.
Goodwin has reassured supporters he is working tirelessly to ensure there is no repeat of a disastrous season.
He said: “I’m having constant conversations with the Director of Football (Steven Gunn) and the Head of Recruitment.
“We are scouring the whole market, not just here in the UK but all over Europe.
“We’ll have to wait and see what business we do get done.
“However, I can assure everyone out there that we’re working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that the squad we have next season is a really good one.
“That the squad is a really competitive one.
“A squad that competes at the right end of the table.”
Working tirelessly on squad rebuild
Goodwin is racking up the hours with his recruitment team in the hunt for signings to improve Aberdeen.
Sourcing talent and getting a deal over the line is part of the managerial process he enjoys.
Goodwin is confident there will be no shortage of players keen on joining Aberdeen.
However they have to be the right fit for the size of the club and scope of his ambition.
He said: “Recruitment is the most important part of any football club and you have to get that right.
“The guys, Darren (Mowbray), Steven (Gunn) and myself have been going through hours and hours of footage.
“We are here until all hours at night.
“I would imagine other managers and other teams are all doing the same.
“We don’t want pats on the back.
“It’s our job to identify players and get them over the line.
“It’s a part of the game I really enjoy.
“There are thousands of players out there and hundreds that will be available.
“And Aberdeen is a really good club to play for and work at.”
