TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
New York City FC have approached Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen for permission to speak with winger Gary Mackay-Steven, according to a report.
The 28-year-old Scotland international’s contract expires in the summer and Sky Sports reports he is free to take to foreign clubs about a possible transfer as his contract is up at the end of the 2018-19 season.
Mackay-Steven previously played for Celtic, Dundee United and Airdrie United in Scotland after coming up through Ross County, Liverpool and Fulham as a youth. He’s made two appearances for Scotland, including an international friendly against Portland in October when he came on as a substitute and set up a Steven Naismith goal in the 3-1 loss at Hampden Park.
Mackay-Steven has just rejoined Aberdeen at a winter training camp in Dubai after missing eight games for a concussion suffered in a Scottish League Cup final loss to Celtic on December 2.
According to Sky, Aberdeen coach Derek McInnes has offered the winger a new deal at the club, while confirming NYCFC’s interest.
"We got notification from New York City that they wanted to speak to his representatives, as is their right," McInnes told Sky Sports News. “Gary was oblivious to it. I spoke to him this morning and he knew nothing about it. When players get into this stage of their contract, you have got to accept you are in a fight to keep them.
"We have been in a fight to get Gary and others to commit for a while now but it is their right to let their contract run down and assess their options.
"All we've asked Gary and his agent is 'are we still in the running to keep you?' and they said 'absolutely'."
