Furious Derek McInnes has accused Sheffield Wednesday and Queens Park Rangers of showing contempt towards Aberdeen by making bids for Scott McKenna in the build-up to their vital Europa League clash in Rijeka.
The Dons have known McKenna has been wanting away for some time, even ahead of Saturday’s transfer request, and put a figure on his head they urged clubs to meet before heading to Rijeka.
But QPR have since made an improved offer – on Wednesday morning – and Sheffield Wednesday came in as fresh bidders, while Bristol City have also registered an interest and Nottingham Forest have had previous offers turned down.
A seething McInnes said: “Clubs have had every opportunity to put their best foot forward over the past few weeks.
“Any club who is trying to deal so close to the game shows a total disregard for us, on the eve of such an important game.
“It is hardly ideal preparation. It is a Europa League game, a very important game, and these clubs have had the whole summer to do a deal and there is a degree of anger, frustration and contempt towards these clubs for trying to put their best foot forward now.”
McKenna has been unsettled and there is still an outside opportunity he could be sold before Thursday night’s 5pm English deadline but McInnes has insisted, as it stands, he will be in the Aberdeen starting XI that will be seeking to seal their second win in Rijeka four years.
The Aberdeen boss said: “The team is picked and he is playing. We did our preparation in Aberdeen yesterday morning and unless I am told differently then Scott will be playing.
“Unless I am told be the chairman that a deal has been agreed then Scott will continue to be an Aberdeen player and that is the way I am continuing to look at it.”
McKenna has seen big-money bids from Aston Villa, Stoke City, Swansea City, Hull City and Celtic thrown out in previous windows.
McInnes has sympathy for the big defender but has insisted he will still get the move he deserves in time.
He added: “I have spoken to Scott, probably, more than any other player in the past couple of weeks.
“He has had a lot to content with and there is a degree of sympathy from myself but he is an Aberdeen player and he has to continue to act like an Aberdeen player and to perform for us, unless I am told differently.
“I have such a high regard for the boy. He is the best of the lot, in terms of personality and we want the best for him.
“No doubt his move and everything will come for him in his career. Whether it comes in this window, clubs have had weeks, the whole summer to put their best foot forward, to try to get him.
“If it doesn’t happen in this window then I am pretty sure it will happen in the near future.”
Meanwhile, McInnes confirmed Aberdeen are closing in on a loan deal for Bristol City defender Zak Vyner.
Vyner, who can play right back or centre half, is expected to move to January in the first instance.
McInnes said: “He is a player who is of interest to us but there is no news on that at this stage.
“I think it would be unlikely he’ll be here and registered for the game.
“He is a player who we’d like to bring in because of the defensive situation with injuries.”
