ABERDEEN have been dealt with a substantial blow as Derek McInnes confirmed that Kenny McLean would be leaving the club..
The midfielder, who’s become a stalwart in McInnes’ sides since his arrival at Pittodrie, will leave at the end of his contract at the conclusion of the season.
McInnes has been forced to admit defeat in his attempt to keep one of his star performers at the club.
“Unfortunately, Kenny McLean has indicated he’s going to leave at the end of the season.
“I am totally fine with that. Disappointed, but grateful that Kenny and his agent have been honest enough to say that’s the intention.”
The 25-year-old joined for £300,000 from St Mirren in 2015 and has made 126 appearances for the Pittodrie club to date, scoring 16 goals.
“Part of the pitch to Kenny when he signed was to develop himself into a full Scotland international and be part of a successful team here, and I think he’s done that,
“We want him to go out on a high with us, hopefully achieving everything we want and involved in Scotland squads coming up.”
Rangers are thought to be interested in the player having had approached rebuffed by Aberdeen in the summer. However, there will be suitors eying McLean south of the border.
“He just feels, he will have been here three-and-a-half years, and his desire is to look somewhere else. Wherever that may be, we don’t know.”
Aberdeen face Celtic tomorrow in a top of the table clash, exclusively live on BT Sport from 19:15.
