Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin revealed his summer transfer window rebuild began on the day he arrived at Pittodrie.
Following his appointment in mid-February, Goodwin wasted no time in laying down a transfer strategy.
On his Pittodrie arrival, the Reds gaffer immediately delivered profiles of players he wants to sign to the club’s recruitment team.
Goodwin insists it was vital the Dons immediately began the hunt for players he wanted – four months before the transfer window opened.
Aberdeen have been in talks with a number of targets in recent weeks.
Goodwin hopes to have the majority of his signing business completed before the start of pre-season training in mid-June.
Aberdeen kick-off Goodwin’s first full campaign in charge with a Premier Sports Cup group stage fixture on the weekend of July 9/10.
Goodwin said: “The first moment I arrived here I had a good meeting with the Director of Football Steven Gunn and Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray.
“We put a plan in place.
“We spoke about the strategy and I gave them the profiles of players I’m looking for.
“There’s been ongoing negotiations with players and representatives.
“We have identified some really good players
“I would like to have everybody available to me when we come back for the first day of pre-season.”
Searching Europe for signings
Head of Recruitment Mowbray recently travelled to the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Sweden in the search for summer signings.
The Dons have active transfer targets overseas.
Mowbray and the Pittodrie recruitment team sourced winger Vicente Besuijen from Netherlands second-tier outfit ADO Den Haag in January.
Besuijen was an unknown quantity when signed for £420,000 on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
🔴 Our Goal Of The Season, sponsored by Cable Solutions Worldwide, is Vicente Besuijen.
🇳🇱 Congratulations Vinnie! #StandFree pic.twitter.com/sOwFt1EzLA
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) April 28, 2022
The 21-year-old has impressed since arriving at Pittodrie and is viewed as proof signing young overseas talent can be a positive and profitable investment.
Goodwin is also interested in Wigan Athletic midfielder Jamie McGrath.
Former Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass attempted to sign McGrath during the January transfer window earlier this year.
However, McGrath, at the time with St Mirren under Goodwin, knocked back the Dons to move to eventual League One champions Wigan.
McGrath has struggled to secure a regular start at Wigan since his January switch.
Goodwin has also refused to rule out a move for Ipswich Town keeper Vaclav Hladky.
St Mirren defender Charles Dunne is also a target.
Goodwin brought Dunne to the Paisley club as a free agent following the expiry of his deal at Motherwell last summer.
The 29-year-old has a year remaining on his deal with St Mirren, who have placed a £250,000 price tag on their player.
Aberdeen’s opening bid of £100,000 was rejected by the Buddies.
The Reds will have to return with an improved offer if they are to secure the left-sided defender.
Aberdeen registered just six clean sheets in 47 games in the recently concluded season.
Wolves’ Ronan midfielder on radar
Goodwin has admitted he’s targeting a summer move for Wolves’ midfielder Connor Ronan.
The 24-year-old spent a successful season on loan at St Mirren and was named the Paisley club’s player of the year.
Ronan is contracted to Premier League Wolves until summer 2024.
Goodwin worked with Ronan at St Mirren for eight months before taking over at Pittodrie.
He hopes their working relationship can help secure the midfield in the summer.
Hearts, Hibs and Bundesliga 2 side St Pauli are also tracking Ronan.
Although Goodwin wants the vast majority of his signings secured in time for pre-season, less than a month away, he accepts he may have to wait for some targets.
He said: “When you are identifying good players they tend to have other options.
“Those discussions don’t tend to be completed as quickly as you like.
“One or two may take a little bit longer than we’d like.”
Liverpool set to move for Ramsay
The Aberdeen rebuild has already started with six first-team players exiting the club following the expiration of their contracts.
Long-serving Andy Considine, Funso-King Ojo, Dylan McGeouch and Michael Ruth will also exit Pittodrie.
Loan players Adam Montgomery (Celtic) and Teddy Jenks (Brighton and Hove Albion) have both returned to their parent clubs.
There could be further exits as Liverpool are set to launch a £4 million bid for Scotland Under-21 international Calvin Ramsay.
Champions League finalists Liverpool have targeted the 18-year-old for a summer move that could rise to £6m with achievable add-ons.
Scotland international Lewis Ferguson, 22. could also be the subject of summer bids.
Ferguson is on the radar of Serie A Cagliari, who were set to launch a £3.5m summer move for the midfielder.
However, Cagliari are now a less attractive proposition as the club were relegated to Serie B at the weekend.
Ferguson recently admitted he does not know if he will be at Aberdeen next season.
Goodwin confident plan will pay off
Having set plans in motion for the summer window five months ago, Goodwin is determined to have the Reds back on track next season.
He said: “We need to get those players we have had conversations with to commit.
“Then we will be back in the middle of June for pre-season.
“That will give us plenty of time to prepare for the Premier Sports Cup.”
