Hearts have made an official move to bring Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes to Tynecastle as they step up the search for Neil Critchley’s successor.
The 53-year old has delivered success with St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock throughout his time as a head coach in Scottish football and a big part of that has been his signings. It’s fair to say the former Rangers midfielder has a preference for UK based players which brings up the question of what that means for the current oversees players at Tynecastle and the club’s current recruitment process involving Jamestown Analytics.
Here are the 116 signings that McInnes made for Aberdeen and Kilmarnock:
45. Dominic Ball
The versatile Englishman was a loan signing from Rotherham United and did enough in his first season to merit the Dons extending his tenure for a second one. He'd previously been on loan at Rangers from Tottenham and moved to QPR and then Ipswich Town after his time with Aberdeen | SNS Group
46. Chidiebere Nwakali
Another promising loan signing that ultimately flopped in Scotland. The Manchester City midfielder couldn't cut it at Pittodrie and now plays his football in Saudi Arabia's second division | SNS Group
47. Freddie Woodman
A decent loan spell at Kilmarnock the previous year saw Aberdeen bring him in to provide competition to Joe Lewis. He was the penalty shoo-out hero against his old club in a Scottish Cup tie which was the only real highlight of his Dons spell. He is currently with Preston North End. | SNS Group
48. Lewis Ferguson
Aberdeen had to pay a reportedly meager compensation fee to Hamilton following a tribunal and he was excellent for the Dons over his three seasons with them before heading to Bologna and lighting up the Serie A | SNS Group