Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron insists his main focus is regaining match sharpness after an injury lay-off and not the Dons’ recent contract offer.
Dons chairman Dave Cormack confirmed the club had made “a significant offer” to the 20-year-old.
Scotland U21 international Barron’s current contract expires in summer 2024.
Barron was reportedly on the radar of Celtic, English Premier League side Brentford and Belgian club Genk during the summer transfer window.
Aberdeen are desperate to secure Barron on a longer deal.
However the midfielder insists his main priority is rediscovering his top form after a three-month injury hell.
Barron only returned to action last month having been sidelined with a knee injury suffered during pre-season.
Asked about his contract situation, Barron said: “I am just focusing on the football and whatever happens from that side will happen.
“It has been a long time out and I am just back from injury.
“I’m just getting my match sharpness back up.
“I’m just fully focused on helping the team out and keeping my performances up.”
‘I am just new into the team in January’
Midfielder Barron was recalled in January from a loan spell at eventual League Two winners Kelty Hearts.
Within weeks of his recall, and first team debut, he signed a new contract.
Barron would go on to make a major impact in the second half of the campaign and was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year.
After such an impact Aberdeen opened up contract talks in the summer and tabled a new deal.
Barron insists he is flattered that the Dons want to extend his Pittodrie career.
But reiterated his focus for now is on regaining top form after injury.
On the Dons’ willingness to secure him on a new deal, he said: “It is always nice.
“As I have said, I am just new into the team in January.
“I just want to get as many games under my belt and keep my performances up.
“I just want to help the team and get another good run going after losing on Saturday.”
Goal at Ibrox ‘the first of many’
Barron suffered the knee injury in a 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat of Highland League Buckie Thistle in June.
He returned to action as a half-time substitute in the 4-0 loss at Dundee United on October 8.
Barron has started all four games since that return.
He netted his first senior goal for the Dons with the opener in the 4-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.
His family were in Glasgow to see him score – and he aims to make that goal the first of many.
Barron said: “I was delighted to score my first goal for the club and it is one I will remember forever.
“I dreamed of it as a kid and apart from the result, it was a great achievement.
“Hopefully it is the first of many for the club.
“I’ve watched it back a fair few times but the camera angle kills it a little bit.
“My family were all buzzing, they were all at the game so it was nice for them to be there to see it.”
Bid to go into winter break on a high
Aberdeen are desperate to bounce back from the Ibrox loss when facing third-placed Hibs at Pittodrie tonight.
A win in the Friday evening fixture would leap-frog the Reds over the Easter Road club into third spot.
Following the Hibs clash the Reds face Livingston and Dundee United before the five-week winter shut down for the World Cup.
Aberdeen will fly out to the United States during the break for a week long training camp in Atlanta.
Barron said: “We have three massive games to concentrate on before the break.
“We need to pick up as many points as we can against tough opposition who we won’t underestimate.
“From these games we need to try and get as many points as we can.”
Conversation