Source: Team_Talk
McGhee in uphill transfer battle
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee says he has been working non-stop over the summer to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season.[LNB] McGhee has taken midfielder Conor Okus and goalkeeper Ryan Jones, both 18, on trial, but his search for more experienced players continues.[LNB]However, he confesses that players and agents holding out for better offers have been a major stumbling block so far.[LNB]He said: "We are trying our hardest to bring in people who are going to improve the team and improve the squad.[LNB]"We've got six weeks to find the players that we want. Over the summer, it's never stopped for me.[LNB]"I've constantly been on the phone, I've constantly been having meetings, but players have been slow to commit, agents have been reluctant to allow their players to commit because they somehow think there is going to be something better around the corner.[LNB]"It will all come to a head eventually and certainly as we get closer to the start of the season. We've just got to be patient, sit tight and make sure that we keep our powder dry."[LNB]McGhee knows he is operating with a more restricted budget than some managers but has no complaints about the resources available to him as he steps up his search for fresh talent.[LNB]He added: "We know the limitations, we know what the budget is, we know the players we can afford and therefore those are the players we are looking at.[LNB]"We're not going to players that we can't afford and asking them to come for this [amount]. It doesn't work like that.[LNB]"We know the market we are in and that's the market we are operating within. I've not got any problems with that. We are where we are, we've got what we've got.[LNB]"Other people are in worse situations than us. I know of one SPL club who don't have any more players than we do and don't have any money to go and get more.[LNB]"At least we have the wages that were released by players who left to go and make a few signings."[LNB]As for further trialists joining the Dons, McGhee added: "There will be more, certainly half a dozen, between now and the end of pre-season training coming and going."
