Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has confirmed Ylber Ramadani was signed as replacement for Bologna-bound Lewis Ferguson.
Albanian international defensive midfielder Ramadani was secured for £100,000 from Hungarian club MTK Budapest.
The 26-year-old penned a three year deal with the Dons on June 8 but Brexit red tape has delayed Ramadani meeting up with Goodwin’s squad.
Ramadani will finally train with the Dons on Monday.
Scotland international Ferguson is set to seal a £3m transfer to the Italian top flight.
Aberdeen have agreed a fee with Bologna for the midfielder who still has two years left on his Pittodrie contract.
Ferguson will undergo a medical in Italy and finalise the transfer to Bologna on what is understood to be a five year deal.
Goodwin insists he always anticipated Ferguson would leave during this window and moved to secure Ramadani as his replacement.
He said: “Ramadani is my replacement. I predicted this happening a long time ago.
“We all knew the speculation was there.
“You always have to have those contingency plans in place.
“I think Ramadani will be a good replacement for Ferguson.
“(Connor) Barron will go from strength to strength this year and I’ve already got (Ross) McCrorie in there who I think the world of.
“(Dante) Polvara had an excellent game (against Peterhead) as well.”
‘He’s been a great servant to Aberdeen’
Ferguson was absent from the squad as Aberdeen defeated League One Peterhead 2-0 in the Premier Sports Cup groups.
Aberdeen had already rejected a bid of £2m from Championship Millwall for Ferguson earlier in the summer window.
The Dons had also knocked back a £2m bid from then Premier League Watford in May last year.
The rejection of Watford’s bid prompted Ferguson to put in a transfer request last year – which was immediately rejected.
Bologna, however, have met Aberdeen’s valuation of the Scotland international.
Goodwin insists Ferguson has earned his big move to the Italian top flight alongside Euro giants like Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
He insists Aberdeen were not going to stand in his way.
Goodwin said: “There has been a serious interest from Bologna.
“As far as I’m aware, they’ve met our valuation and it’s up to Lewis to pass the medical.
“We don’t want to say that it’s finalised because it’s not.
“Lewis still has a bit of red tape to get through.
“He’s been a great servant to Aberdeen.
“Lewis has been here for four years, he’s been a pleasure in my short period.
“He’s a very, very good professional and he’s from a good, football family.
“I think he’s warranted this move now and the club aren’t going to stand in his way.
“I know I speak for the board and the rest of the players in there and all my staff, that if it does come off, we wish him every success over there.”
Creativity still needed in midfield
Goodwin’s rebuilt squad kick-started the new season with a Group A win at Peterhead, courtesy of two goals from Christian Ramirez.
Although Goodwin confirmed Ramadani was brought in as replacement for Ferguson he admits he still needs more creativity in midfield.
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🇺🇸 @Chris_Ramirez17 with his second of the afternoon. #StandFree | #PremierSportsCup
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 10, 2022
Wolves’ midfielder Connor Ronan is on Goodwin’s radar as is Jamie McGrath of Wigan Athletic.
Premier League Wolves are willing to sell Ronan this summer and it is understood they want a transfer fee of up to £5o0,000.
Goodwin said: “We’re three or four short.
“We miss Barron when he’s out of the team.
“I though Dante Polvara and Ross McCrorie were excellent against Peterhead but they won’t mind me saying that the creativity isn’t a side of the game that they’re best at.
“We still want another one. I think Ramadani is good, he’ll get on the ball and give us another option. at the top end.
“I want more creativity, I want more pace in the team.
“I want someone who can unlock defences.
“We’ll continue to work hard.”
Competitive debuts for new signings
Four summer signings made their competitive Aberdeen debuts against Peterhead – Anthony Stewart, Liam Scales, Jayden Richardson and Kelle Roos.
Goodwin said: “The first half was very frustrating and Jim McInally and his Peterhead players deserve a lot of credit for that.
“The young keeper deserved to be man of the match as he made a few key saves.
“In these games you are on a hiding to nothing.
“The professionalism of my players was there for all to see and we deserved to win the game.”
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