Aberdeen have booted out Scott McKenna’s bombshell transfer demand and insisted they will not be browbeaten into letting him leave the club on the cheap.
Record Sport can reveal manager Derek McInnes has reacted angrily after McKenna requested a move on the advice of his agent following failed bids from Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest - just days before the Dons crunch Europa league qualifier against HNK Rijeka in Croatia.
But the aggressive move could be set to backfire on McKenna with McInnes now set to dig his heels in unless the player’s £7million valuation is matched.
A source close to the deal said: “Derek feels Scott is being badly advised and that the agent involved is trying to force Aberdeen’s hand.
“That’s simply not going to happen and, if anything, this has merely strengthened the club’s resolve.
"No bid will be accepted for Scott unless Aberdeen’s valuation is met.”
McKenna, 22, has been the subject of several bids over the past year. As well as Championship pair QPR and Forest coming in for him in this window, Aston Villa failed with a £7m offer last summer while Swansea and Celtic also had offers that fell short.
Aberdeen will look for a final deal that is in excess of that Villa offer, even if it includes add-ons.
