Aberdeen boss Barry Robson on hunt for further transfers to strengthen Pittodrie squad

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson is on the hunt for more long-term transfers.

Robson made his ninth summer signing on Friday when a deal was struck for New Zealand defender James McGarry to move from Central Coast Mariners.

Five of Robson’s summer transfers featured in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Celtic, although two of them – Graeme Shinnie and Leighton Clarkson – were at Pittodrie on loan last season.

But Robson was keen to ensure this summer’s business was of the permanent variety.

“We are trying to build a team,” he said. “Bear in mind when we came in last year, I think we finished the season with eight loan signings in my team.

“All the signings we have made so far are Aberdeen players. We are trying to build a squad that is going to be here.

“We are going to add. Jimmy McGarry is due in soon and we will be adding, on top of that, three or four players.

“The club are trying so hard. The club have been outstanding trying to get them done.

“I wanted to make sure we did a proper window where we get our players and that’s why it is taking a bit of time.”

As well as some newcomers, Robson handed several players a rare chance to impress the home fans in Sunday’s hard-fought contest.

American midfielder Dante Polvara twice came close on his first Pittodrie start since May 2022 and former Fleetwood winger Shayden Morris impressed in the first half in his first home start since signing last summer.

With Jonny Hayes absent, 19-year-old Ryan Duncan also started against the champions.

When asked about bringing Morris and Polvara in from the cold, Robson said: “It’s two players that I came in and looked at right away and thought, I like them, we can work with them. That’s why they are here, that’s why I kept them. I thought I could work with them and make them better.

“Yes, we lost (Ylber) Ramadani but we had Dante Polvara come in and we had Ryan Duncan come in and played at wing-back. He is going to be some player as well, Ryan Duncan, I can promise you that.

“I like to see young, fit, fast players who can manipulate the ball well and these two kids have got that.”