Source: Team_Talk
McGhee rules out new arrivals
After failing to land an unnamed target from Norway before the transfer window closed, Dons boss McGhee will now focus on securing players on pre-contract agreements for next term.
McGhee insisted the cash-strapped Pittodrie club did have some money to spend but he rejected a number of potential targets whom he deemed not good enough for the first team.
"We don't just want to strengthen the bench," said McGhee, who reiterated his acceptance of the levels of funds he has been afforded.
"Over the last weeks, what I've been trying to do is steal a player.
"My options were several (players) that I knew we could get but were obviously earning far too much money for us.
"I thought we might negotiate (them) down, selling the idea that we would get them in the shop window - one in particular from Norway, who I felt would have been a good signing for us, but which fell to bits on Monday."
McGhee, who revealed that player would have become the biggest earner at the club, also said he had turned down a number of youngsters.
He added: "I decided that none of them were of a quality that were obviously better than the ones I have here."
The Dons boss will now use the January transfer window to approach players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
He said: "That is our priority now, to find targets, to approach those targets when we're legally able to and secure them for at least the summer."
McGhee did not completely rule out signing out-of-contract players outside the transfer window but said he would only bring someone in "if they can go in the team and displace somebody who's already in the squad".
McGhee admitted his current squad was "not near strong enough" for him to be confident of finishing third in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
But he urged supporters to keep the faith, adding: "I can only ask the fans to be realistic."
