Last updated : 27 February 2008 By Ed_ScottishFitba
Walker's loan deal ends at the end of the season
Jimmy Calderwood is not that happy with recent performances from his current squad of players and recently threatened a summer clear out. The Aberdeen manager has just returned from a scouting trip to England and some targets have been identified to freshen things up at Pittodrie. Aberdeen's UEFA Cup games - which was ended last week by Bayern Munich - has made it difficult for Calderwood to visit games in recent months. However, he and assistant Jimmy Nicholl both took in games south of the border earlier this week and liked what they saw. Calderwood said: "It was a very successful trip in such that for the positions we think we need strengthened there were a few possibilities there. Jimmy was at a different game and he had the same impression. Normally we would have done all this before but obviously with the programme we've had, we never had the time for it."
There appears to be an appetite in the club's boardroom for sanctioning money to be made available during the summer to strengthen his squad. However, it is unlikely that Calderwood will be allowed to make any individual expensive signings. He said: "We've got no chance of going to buy people for £1million or £500,000. In total we might have three, four or five hundred thousand pounds, I don't know what we've earned exactly. We are still looking at free transfers and people out of contract. But the great thing is, lots of agents phone up with good players that want to come to Aberdeen."
Aberdeen, like a number of clubs, could see a number of players who are out of contract in the summer move on. The list includes Richie Byrne, Steve Lovell, Lee Miller, Barry Nicholson and Derek Soutar. Another pair who could leave are Sone Aluko and Josh Walker whose loan deals expire at the end of the season. But Calderwood thinks discussion on who may leave and who may stay is not fair on those involved. He said: "I think there is a major overhaul coming, but when we know what the situation is with players, then we will let people know. Obviously people are going to throw names in here and there, but I don't think that is very fair to players."
