As Rangers continue their hunt for a manager, one of the obvious candidates to take charge at Ibrox continues to be Derek McInnes.
While the Aberdeen manager has distanced himself from speculation surrounding a potential move, the fact remains he is one of the prime contenders due to the job he has done at Aberdeen.
Taking over at Pittodrie after a tumultuous period for the club under the management of Mark McGhee and Craig Brown, many thought McInnes was taking on a poisoned chalice. It looked like Aberdeen would never be able to find themselves again, languishing in mid-table of the Scottish top-flight, constantly at odds with the expectations of supporters.
That didn’t stop the former Rangers midfielder though and it’s fair to say he has delivered on his promise to make Aberdeen a force in Scottish football again. Consistently second behind Celtic and winning the club’s first trophy since the 1990s, McInnes has become a fan favourite in the Granite City.
That’s been in part due to assembling and getting the best out of a talented squad. So if he did move to Rangers, who should he bring with him?
These are the THREE players McInnes should try to steal from the Dons if he goes to Ibrox…
Adam Rooney
A consistent scorer in the Scottish top-flight for six years in two spells at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Aberdeen, Adam Rooney has proven he has what it takes to be one of the Scottish Premiership’s top performers.
His 73 goals in 137 matches have been the catalyst for Aberdeen’s recent success and if he starts he will usually find a way to get on the scoresheet against any opposition, even Celtic.
Rangers have been crying out for a regular goalscorer this season with the veteran Kenny Miller the closest to providing that. The ‘Gers need a long-term replacement for him and there would be no better than poacher Rooney.
McInnes knows how to get the best out of him too so if the former Rangers man does return to Ibrox then we can think of no better player to join him than the prolific Rooney.
Graeme Shinnie
While he always showed potential at Inverness CT, Graeme Shinnie has come on leaps and bounds as a player since joining Aberdeen in 2015. Derek McInnes has worked wonders with the 25-year-old, transforming him from a full-back into not just a fine defender but also a versatile midfielder too.
Shinnie is often one of the Dons’ top performers and is surely not far away from receiving his first Scotland caps, having previously been called up to the squad by national boss Gordon Strachan.
He wouldn’t be the first Shinnie to play at Ibrox, his brother Andrew started his career there, last seen starring for Hibs in Wednesday night’s Edinburgh derby.
It’s Graeme who has emerged into the more accomplished player though and we’re certain McInnes would want him to be at the heart of any of his future sides.
Jonny Hayes
Jonny Hayes is a man capable of the fantastic and remarkable and in a league where deep defences can frustrate Rangers, that’s an absolutely vital trait.
The Republic of Ireland winger has been an outstanding performer for Aberdeen in his time at the club. That’s never been truer than this season, one of the players excelling as Derek McInnes pushes for yet another second-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership.
He would add a classy attacking threat in the final third at Ibrox, for a team that has struggled for goals since their promotion from the Championship.