Winger Jonny Hayes insists Aberdeen’s rebuilt squad must deliver payback on the club’s summer transfer investment.
Chairman Dave Cormack and the the Pittodrie board of directors have outlaid seven figures in transfer fees this summer.
The Reds splashed the cash to sign striker Bojan Miovski (£535,000) and midfielder Ylber Ramadani (£100,000) from Hungarian club MK Budapest.
Right-back Jayden Richardson was also secured in a £300,000 swoop from Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest.
A fee of around £400,000 was paid to Portuguese giants Benfica for striker Luis Lopes.
In an extensive rebuild Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin also signed defender Anthony Stewart (Wycombe Wanderers) and goalkeeper Kelle Roos (Derby County) on frees.
Celtic defender Liam Scales arrived on a season-long loan from the Premiership champions.
Three more signings planned
Goodwin aims to move to sign Scales on a permanent deal during the January transfer window.
Up to three more signings are planned in Goodwin’s summer squad overhaul.
Hayes, 35, reckons Goodwin and the board have delivered in the transfer window – now the players have to do the same in the new season.
Aberdeen have won their opening three games of the season in the Premier Sports Cup.
Hayes said: “The manager and the board have done the recruitment throughout the summer.
“They have worked hard.
“Now on the pitch, it’s time to transform it into a better season for Aberdeen.”
Summer transfer window rebuild
Goodwin has confirmed he still wants to sign a No.10, a winger and an attacking midfielder in the summer window.
Aberdeen have been linked with a move for Fleetwood Town winger Shayden Morris.
The Dons are reportedly keen to land the 20-year-old, who is managed by former Aberdeen captain Scott Brown.
Morris is contracted to to Fleetwood until summer 2023 and it is understood it would take a six figure sum to secure him.
The Dons boss is also keen on signing Wolves midfielder Connor Ronan.
It is understood the Premier League club could want as much as £500,000 for the 24-year-old.
Aberdeen will have to wait for an answer on Ronan’s availability as the midfielder is currently at a training camp in Spain with Wolves.
Wolves boss Bruno Lage will assess Ronan in Alicante before making a decision on his future at the Premier League club.
Hearts are also interested in signing Ronan, who spent a successful spell on loan at St Mirren last season.
Besuijen can be a ‘top, top player’
Regardless of the new signings secured, and those yet to arrive, Hayes reckons a player already in the building last season will be key – Vicente Besuijen.
Winger Besuijen, 21, was secured in a £420,000 transfer from Dutch second tier club ADO Den Haag in January this year.
Besuijen impressed during the pre-season training camp in Spain and netted a double in the 7-1 friendly defeat of Brechin City.
Attacker Besuijen has maintained that form and hit a double in the 5-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat of Stirling Albion.
Hayes hailed Besuijen as a player with ‘tremendous quality’ who will progress to be a ‘top, top player’.
He insists Aberdeen fans have yet to see what the play-maker is fully capable of.
Hayes said: “Vinny is a player of tremendous quality.
“Last season he showed glimpses but it’s still a learning curve for him.
“He’s still young and only moved to the country seven months ago.
“It takes time to settle in at a big club like this.
🇳🇱 VB 🔟 x 2.#StandFree | #PremierSportsCup pic.twitter.com/fTcC55sa9c
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 20, 2022
“He’s done very well so far and he’s got a lot more to come. He knows that himself.
“Vinny has certainly worked hard and he’s sharp, quick, strong and highly intelligent.
“He’s got all the attributes to be a top, top player.”
🇳🇱 VB 🔟
The wee man at it again in training today. pic.twitter.com/ryCphUMyNs
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 2, 2022
Opportunity for teen stars to impress
Last season saw the rise of teen stars Calvin Ramsay and Connor Barron to become pivotal first team regulars.
Ramsay, 18, secured a club record transfer to Premier League giants Liverpool that could be worth up to £8 million.
Aberdeen secured an initial £4.5m upfront and could land up to £3.5m in additional add-ons should Ramsay meet certain milestones at Liverpool.
Barron, contracted until summer 2024, has become a key component of Goodwin’s first team and a Scotland U21 international.
Aberdeen are currently in talks with Barron and his representative in the bid to secure the teen on a longer contract with improved terms.
Goodwin recently tied down teenage centre-back Jack Milne on an extended contract.
Milne and fellow teens Ryan Duncan and Mason Hancock have all featured in the Premier Sports Cup group stages.
Hayes insists it is up to the teens to grab that chance in the new campaign.
He said: “It’s a good learning curve for boys to come in.
“It’s up to them to take their chance and you saw what happened with Calvin Ramsay.
“Mason (Hancock) and Jack (Milne) have certainly done that over the course of the last few weeks.”
‘I train every day as if it’s my last’
Republic of Ireland international Hayes has already pitched in with three assists in the three Premier Sports Cup games.
Hayes turned 35 earlier this month but still retains lightning pace and the stamina to play at a high tempo for 90 minutes.
He insists that is because he trains every day ‘as if it’s my last’.
He said: “I’ve always worked hard to stay as fit and as quick as I can.
“I train every day as if it’s my last and try to be the best player in training.
“It doesn’t always happen but if you try your hardest then it certainly helps keep your standards at a high level.”
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