Barry Robson reveals strict Aberdeen FC transfer criteria as recruitment team kick into gear

The Reds boss brought in 13 players in a busy summer and wants quality to improve his team.

Barry Robson has stated that if Aberdeen make any moves in January then it will only be for targets who would go straight into his starting XI.

The Dons boss did major resurvey on his squad, bringing in 13 players over the summer and now it is all about adding quality over quantity. Robson has confirmed he and his recruitment team are active in the market but it has to be better than what Aberdeen currently have.

The Aberdeen manager stated: “Everybody saw what we did in the summer and we don’t want to go through that again. We brought in a lot of good players. If we see something that is really going to help us or is the right thing for the football club then we will do it. It is notoriously not a good window to get what you really want. Anyone we want to sign then we want to make sure they make an impact on the team. We will be looking at that. We are active on recruitment but every club will tell you it is a difficult window in January. Less and less seems to get done. If there is something we really like and it is good for the club then we will try and see what we can do.”

The Dons have already let defender Rhys Williams return to Liverpool after he failed to kick a competitive ball in the first half of the season. Israeli defender Or Dadia has also been on the same boat and is also likely to see his loan from Hapoel Be’er Sheva cut short. There could also be departures for the likes of Vicente Besuijen who has also found himself on the fringes.

Robson, who is looking for another third place finish, is looking for more consistency from his team after the break, now they no longer had the headache of European group stage football. The Aberdeen manager is pleased with the balance of his squad.

He said: “We had to sign eight loan players and we had to build a whole new squad. Next summer we will be in a lot better place. We won’t need to be turning over 13 players. That won’t be happening again.

“We can just concentrate on two or three that can make us better in certain areas. That is where we want to be moving forward. It is a good age balance for a squad. You have Stefan Gartenmann at 27, Jamie McGrath and Richard Jensen about that age.

"Then you have the Dante Polvara’s, Duk’s and Connor Barron’s coming in below that. We also have Graeme, Kelle and Jonny at the opposite end. You need a bit of everything. You need youth, guys in their prime and experience. That's what we have tried to do.”