Aberdeen have been delivered a massive blow ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic with pictures emerging of Graeme Shinnie in talks with Derby County.
The club skipper is suspended for Sunday’s match but rather than offer his team-mates moral support has decided to head south to discuss a lucrative new contract for next season.
Is this Graeme Shinnie? Spotted at Pride Park today. #dcfcfans #StandFree #AberdeenFC pic.twitter.com/g7CuAPsKYf
— Derby County Talk (@derbycountytalk) April 11, 2019
Shinnie is out of contract at the end of the season and has been stalling on a decision over whether he would sign a new contract with his home-town team. Over the last 12 months he has tried to manufacture a rivalry with Scott Brown.
There was speculation that he would be heading to Ibrox to be reunited with Ryan Jack but that seems unlikely with Derby able to comfortably see off any offer from Steven Gerrard.
As a local player and captain the sight of Shinnie undermining his club’s preparations for a vital cup tie won’t be well received by supporters hoping to see their side win their second trophy in 29 years.
Exactly a year ago David Bates stunned Ibrox by signing a pre-contract deal with Hamburg in the week before a semi-final with Celtic.
The latest from Lennyhttps://t.co/r9Bvb2bKCm
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) April 11, 2019