As the clock started to tick towards tomorrow's 5pm deadline and with ?500,000-worth of David Bell money burning a hole in his back pocket – let alone what someone may yet offer for Lee Croft's services in the next 36-hours – so all eyes were turning towards the heart of that Canary defence and whether a big Scottish sparkler had caught Bryan Gunn's eye.
The News Of The World this morning threw Dons centre-half Zander Diamond right into the transfer mix, claiming that the new Canary chief might return to Pittodrie for the answer to his centre-half prayers after seemingly being foiled in his pursuit of Cardiff skipper Darren Purse.
That the Canaries are in need of a commanding centre-half is not in question as Gunn bemoaned the 'lack of ownership' that accompanied Doncaster Rovers' opening goal at the KeepMoat Stadium on Friday night. Up front and Chris Killen's impending arrival on loan from Celtic might tick that six-foot box.
The next box is at the back where the lack of a commanding presence alongside Gary Doherty has continually bedevilled the Norfolk side – Southampton's soft, soft leveller in mid-week was another prime example of the breed and underlined again the need for someone of Diamond's six-foot two-inch breed.
The former Scottish Under-21 international has been earning rave reviews north of the border, but will come at a price – he signed a new, three-and-a-half year deal at Pittodrie this time last year.
Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood is already braced for a move for his skipper Scott Severin; whether a second one will follow for his vice-captain Diamond is another matter. Interestingly – unlike Bluebirds boss Dave Jones – Aberdeen would appear to have other options in that department. They could survive if Severin or Diamond or both opted to follow that well-worn path south.
The same path, of course, that Gunn himself trod some 22-odd years ago.
“If he gets a big offer from a club in England then there is little we can do,” Calderwood told the Scottish press last week. Then he was talking about Severin. But given Gunn's big connections with Aberdeen's director of football Willie Miller, he could just as easily find himself talking about Diamond.
“I am quite realistic about these sort of things,” added Calderwood, himself linked to a vacancy at Carrow Road of late – the managerial one now occupied by Gunn.
“I know I will still have two very good centre-halves here [Severin and Diamond], hopefully three if Lee Mair stays, and we may need to get someone in. I am sure if it happens we will be prepared.”
Severin and Mair are both out of contract in the summer and can walk – as is so many players wont these days. Croft included.
He has a fourth centre-half on the books in the shape of Andrew Considine. An abundance of riches compared to Jones' slender resources at Ninian Park.
“Zander was absolutely brilliant in my first year here and he's getting back to these standard now,” Calderwood added ahead of this weekend's clash with Falkirk.
Diamond proved everyone's best friend at Pittodrie earlier this month when he grabbed two goals in victory over Celtic – a result that blew the title race wide open and kept Aberdeen on course for a place in Europe.
“I could have sold him for big money in my first three months in the job but decided against it,” said the Dons boss. “We knew just how important he would be for this club and what a really good player he is at the top of his game.
“That's where he has been for the last few months and hopefully the standard will be maintained. His confidence is sky high at the moment and you can see that from the way he is playing.”
The player himself appeared intent on keeping his head down and concentrating on his own game. Thereafter, what will be, will be.
“It's up to me to maintain consistency,” Diamond told The Record last week. “I had a lot of praise when I broke into the team but it went pear-shaped the next season.
“Now I work hard in training and try to take that into games. And I do things quietly – if that's possible with a guy like me. The manager told me one night he'd turned down a bid for me but I was too young to know or get involved in it. I 'm still young and still learning but I'm much more mature now.”
Speaking after Friday night's draw with Rovers – a result that on the back of yesterday's games found the Canaries still a mere point above the drop zone and back in 20th spot after Derby's first win under Nigel Clough – Gunn warned that many a twist-and-turn was to come between now and 5pm tomorrow afternoon.
“There's two-and-a-half days until the transfer deadline and we will do our utmost to bring quality players into the football club,” the new Canary chief vowed.
“We've got till Monday at five to do any permanent transfers and obviously cross-border transfers as well and then another week and we can do emergency loans in England,” said Gunn, revealing that his chances of whipping in anyone from his old, Highland haunts had now no more than 36 hours to run.
“There's lots of phone calls in, lots of potential signings and as soon as we have anything solid to let you know, we will do.”
Could be a lively little time, in short.
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