Joe Harper: My FOUR transfer priorities for Aberdeen

I’ve been busy compiling my Christmas shopping list for Aberdeen following the comments from the club at the AGM on Monday.

With the transfer window set to open on January 1 I was intrigued by chief executive Alan Burrows’ comments that the only players coming in will be ones who can make an immediate impact in the team.

That means we won’t be seeing more players in the mould of Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, Kenan Bilalovic and Mitchel Frame, who the Dons have shelled out a combined seven-figure sum for, joining.

The last month has been an encouraging one domestically for the Dons but the team still looks short in a few areas so I’ve outline my four priorities next month.

A penalty box striker

A striker is a priority position for me. I like Marko Lazetic and he is having more influence with each game he plays while it’s good to see Kevin Nisbet back on the scoresheet again.

But I still don’t see Nisbet as and out and out striker. He’s a talented player but one who prefers to drop off to get on the ball.

It has been a regular complaint of mine all season but I don’t see a penalty box striker in this Aberdeen squad.

It’s great we’re playing with wingers but too often I watch them look up and have nobody to aim for in the box.

Left winger

Jesper Karlsson is a very good player on his day while Topi Keskinen has had some good performances lately, but I’d still like to see a natural left-sided winger in the team.

Both players want to come in on their right foot and Karlsson in particular has a terrific shot on him, but I’d still like to see someone who can take a full back on, get in behind him and get balls into the box.

Box-to-box midfielder

The midfield has looked more productive with Dante Polvara and Adil Aouchiche paired together but the two lads cannot do it themselves.

Aouchiche did well to push forward and scored two good goals in the 3-1 win at Dundee at the weekend but I’d like to see a box-to-box player who can drive the team forward.

Jimmy Thelin talks about transition a lot and while he has pace in the wide areas which can hurt teams when the Dons break forward, I’m not convinced we have that in the middle of the park.

Goalkeeper

I’d like to see another goalkeeper brought in to push Dimitar Mitov more.

This might seem like a strange one as we have two goalkeepers on the books in Mitov and Nick Suman already, but I get the impression, unless he is injured, Mitov is a nailed-on starter every week.

Suman arrived from Cove Rangers with big ideas of forcing his way into the team and trying to earn international recognition with Australia, but we haven’t seen him at first-team level.

A KDM Evolution Trophy appearance with the young Dons at Spartans last month has been all we’ve seen of the Aussie which tells me the jury is still out on the shotstopper.

Mitov is comfortable, knowing he is the first choice goalkeeper at Pittodrie but I don’t think increased competition would do him any harm at all.

Dons will be hoping to face a complacent Strasbourg

There is part of me which feels like the Conference League has become more of a distraction than something to look forward to at this point.

The 1-1 draw with Noah has left the Dons needing to do something spectacular in their final two league phase games, but it’s easier said than done against Strasbourg and Sparta Prague.

The French club are first up at Pittodrie tonight and they have arrived in the Granite City knowing they have already qualified with two games to spare.

That might play into Aberdeen’s hands as complacency could creep in but they are clearly a very good team and a tough night lies ahead.

It would be nice to see the Dons go to Prague next week having something at stake in the final game but I fear I’m getting my hopes up.

Instead, the focus should now be on the league.

Aberdeen are back in the top six and are steadily closing the gap on the teams above them in the Premiership.

It’s vital the Dons get back into the top four as quickly as possible as being in Europe every year and banking that significant cash is vital for the club.

[Source: Press and Journal]