Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin reveals summer transfer window assessment plan

Press and Journal

01-05-2025

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin will conduct a major assessment of his debut campaign in a bid to devise a plan to finish even higher in the Premiership next season.
The Dons are in the fight to finish third in the league and have reached the Scottish Cup final where they face Celtic on May 24.
Thelin is fully focused on the bid to secure third, deliver European qualification and lift the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990.
However, even if the Dons secure third and silverware glory, the Swede will not be content.
Thelin is determined to propel Aberdeen to a higher level still and will look at ways to achieve that during the summer.
That will include transfer business in the summer with the Dons moving early by agreeing a deal to sign Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic.
The 23-year-old will join Aberdeen in the summer for a fee of around £400,000 from A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers.
Thelin will also assess other factors such as training in a bid to finish higher in the league next season – even if the Dons secure a third-placed finish.
The Pittodrie gaffer said: 'At the end of the season we will analyse things.
'That will be looking at now we are on this level, what do we need for next season to improve.
'To deserve to be higher in the table.
'Do we change the squad, do we train more, do we train differently?
'All those types of things.
'However, for now all the focus is on the games before the end of the season and trying to win them.'
Aberdeen boss Thelin faces a number of dilemmas over the future of players at the end of the season.
The Dons have the option to buy on Oday Dabbagh and Jeppe Okkels who are both currently at Pittodrie on loan.
Palestinian international Dabbagh recently signed a contract extension with parent club Charleroi.
The striker's contract with Charleroi was set to expire in the summer.
However, the Belgium club triggered a clause to take that deal up to the summer of 2026.
Dabbagh has scored four goals in 11 games since arriving on loan on deadline day of the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old scored the late winner in the 2-1 Scottish Cup semi-final win against Hearts at Hampden.
It is understood Preston North End would want a fee of £1million for Okkels in the summer.
Okkels, who played under Thelin at Swedish top flight Elfsborg, has played 15 games for the Dons, with 10 starts.
Leading goalscorer Kevin Nisbet's loan from Millwall also expires at the end of the season.
Thelin has previously admitted he would be keen to have Nisbet at Pittodrie next season.
However, it is understood Millwall would look for a seven-figure fee if they were to sell the Scotland international in the summer.
That would be to recoup some of the £2m paid to Hibs for Nisbet in summer 2023.
Full-back Jack MacKenzie and keeper Ross Doohan are also out of contract with Aberdeen at the end of the season.
For now though, Thelin is focused on the bid to end his first season at Pittodrie on a high.
Aberdeen, who are level on points with third-placed Hibs, travel to St Mirren on Saturday.
Thelin said: 'It is so tight in the league table.
'There are not so many points to play for as there are only four games left so we have to be really focused.
'They are going to be tight games so we have to be sharp in every game.
'We also have to be better away from home so there are things to improve.'