Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin has confirmed that he is hoping to convince Liam Scales of a long-term stay at Pittodrie but that Celtic still hold all the cards.
Scales has joined the Dons on a season-long loan deal but there was no option-to-buy clause added, despite Aberdeen wanting to land him on a permanent basis.
Goodwin has confirmed discussions were held on that but that Celtic still hold ‘value’ in the player.
Nonetheless, he is keen to keep speaking to the Bhoys and the player in an effort to convince all parties that his long-term future lies at Aberdeen.
The Pittodrie boss told a press conference yesterday when asked about a permanent deal: “It’s something that we discussed with Celtic in the build-up to try and do the loan. Celtic clearly value Liam as well and see this as a good move for them.
“We would all love to be signing players permanently all of the time. The loan market is a good market, if you get the right ones. We’ll continue to have those discussions with Celtic going forward. If Liam has the kind of success that we expect him to have here, this season for Aberdeen, and hopefully he’ll enjoy it that much that he’ll want to stay as well.
“We don’t want to have a team full of loan players. We don’t want to be signing players on three and four-year contracts and releasing them after 12 months as we maybe made a mistake. We want to be sure about the players that we’re bringing into the club. I would love to sign Liam Scales on a long-term contract, but he’s very much Celtic’s player.
“We will just enjoy him for the time that we have him but those discussions hopefully will come back up again, in the middle part of the season.”
Scales made his debut for Aberdeen, starting a pre-season friendly against Buckie Thistle.
It looks like Goodwin is laying the groundwork for the Irishman to be a first-choice pick in the defence this season.
The former St Mirren boss has also stated his intention to play Scales as a left-sided centre-back primarily, despite all of his appearances for the Bhoys coming on the left flank.
He played regularly at centre-back for Shamrock Rovers and some observers believe it to be his best position.
If he gets full Scottish Premiership season under his belt and impresses at Aberdeen, he may well have a future at Celtic Park in that role.
In other news, Scottish press move quickly to clarify Ben Davies Celtic situation.
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