Aberdeen

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

When Sweden winger Jesper Karlsson joined Aberdeen on loan from Bologna the Pittodrie club hailed it as "a major signing coup".

He departs four-and-a-half months later - to spend the rest of the campaign with Dutch Eredivisie outfit Utrecht - having struggled to live up to the hype.

Karlsson - who cost Bologna £9.5m in 2023 - reunited with fellow Swede and his former Elfsborg boss Jimmy Thelin at Pittodrie, but the 27-year-old was hampered by playing in a malfunctioning team and the now-sacked manager's passive tactics.

Yet with six goals (including five in the league) in 26 appearances, Karlsson is the Dons' top scorer this season.

In his 18 league outings, Karlsson registered 50 shots and 16 on target - both the most of any Aberdeen player - while scoring the joint most big chances (three, level with Marko Lazetic) and joint most goals from open play (three, level with Adil Aouchiche and Lazetic).

Karlsson also created 29 chances - a total bettered only by Stuart Armstrong's 32 - but departs without an assist to his name.

His passing accuracy has been average, ranking 15th in the Aberdeen squad, while Topi Keskinen, Alexander Jensen and Adil Aouchiche all delivered more crosses.

Dons fans, what do you make of Karlsson's departure and time at the club? Are you disappointed to see him leave early?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn has played down links to the vacant Aberdeen manager's job and insists he's had "no contact" from Pittodrie.

After back-to-back promotions, McGlynn's side are currently sixth in the Premiership and the 64-year-old is reportedly in the frame to replace the sacked Jimmy Thelin at Pittodrie.

"I'm purely focused on this game," McGlynn said as Falkirk prepare to host Hibernian on Saturday.

"I've had no contact and I'm not looking for that. I'm just looking to concentrate on the next game, keep the boys focused.

"The last thing I want is distractions. I've got to just focus on this game.

"I've been in the game a long time, it's not the first time. I was heavily linked with the Hearts job as well not so long ago.

"I always look upon it as a back-handed compliment for the work that's getting done. It's similar when players are doing well, they sometimes get moves on the back of it.

"I certainly don't want it becoming a distraction, that's for sure. As I say, I'm totally focused on this. I've got a good group of boys here. I've got guys like Scott Bain who's just re-signed a longer-term contract in here.

"I've been enjoying my work here. I'm just focused on that."

McGlynn, who has signed striker Ben Parkinson and playmaker Louie Marsh this month, indicated he is unlikely to add any further January recruits, saying: "I'm happy with what we've got."

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn and St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson are not frontrunners for the Aberdeen job, according to Herald sportswriter Stephen McGowan.

The Dons are still on the hunt for Jimmy Thelin's successor but are now in the latter stages of their search.

"I think they're probably down to a shortlist of four or five," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with another overseas manager, a manager based overseas at the minute.

"They're interviewing candidates, there's been talk in some English outlets of Stephen Robinson and John McGlynn being frontrunners, I don't think there is a frontrunner."

With German sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel leading the manager search, McGowan suggests another appointment from outside the UK is likely.

"You would imagine with Lutz Pfannenstiel leading the process that there will be a possibility of German candidates on there," he added.

"I'm led to believe that there's one candidate currently in a job overseas in a country which is not Germany."

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• No side has dropped more points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season than Livingston (15, level with Dundee United), who have drawn their past two league matches 1-1 despite going 1-0 ahead each time.

• Livingston are winless in 28 away matches in the Premiership (D7 L21) since a 3-2 victory at Hibernian in August 2023.

• Aberdeen have lost their past four league games, the longest ongoing losing run in this season's top flight. All four have been without scoring, while the Dons last lost five in a row without netting in November 2003.

• Livingston are winless in seven league matches against Aberdeen, alternating between defeat (4 times) and drawing (three) since a 2-1 victory in November 2022.

• Aberdeen have won just two of their past 11 league games against newly-promoted opposition (D4 L5), although one of those was away to Livingston in November (1-0).

Sweden winger Jesper Karlsson, 27, is to cancel his loan move from Bologna to Aberdeen and join Utrecht on loan. (Herald - subscription required), external

Aberdeen have around five names on their managerial shortlist, including candidates working in Scotland, England and overseas. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

A transfer fee for Lyall Cameron's move from Dundee to Rangers has finally been thrashed out by a tribunal almost a year on from the midfielder's switch to Ibrox being announced, but the fee for the player now on loan at Aberdeen will not be publicly disclosed. (Sun), external

Rangers will pay Dundee around £400,000 as a transfer fee for Cameron, 23. (Herald - subscription required), external

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

It wasn't a particularly memorable occasion at Pittodrie on Sunday as Aberdeen began their Scottish Cup title defence with a 1-0 win over Championship Raith Rovers, but it was all about the result for Peter Leven's team.

Jack Milne's first goal for the club was enough to take them through to a tough fifth-round tie against a Motherwell side that knocked them out of the League Cup in September.

It is also the club that ended their last hope of going back-to-back in the competition in 1991, Stevie Kirk scoring the first of his goal-laden campaign on their way to the trophy.

The arrival of Lyall Cameron on loan from Rangers has caused debate among the club's supporters and it's understandable.

Forget the fact he is a Rangers player, the bigger picture, as the Dons fans see it, is that they are developing a player for another Premiership club, one whom it's purported had the chance to move to Aberdeen on a pre-contract 12 months ago but chose Ibrox instead.

It is a win-win for Rangers because even if Cameron doesn't have a future there after his Pittodrie stint, a positive spell will allow the Glasgow club to increase his transfer fee should they look to sell him, potentially pricing Aberdeen out of the market.

And going by the midfielder's man-of-the-match performance against Raith, there is a good chance he will exalt his status at his parent club during his time in the Granite City.

It could also leave Aberdeen in the position they endured with Ryan Christie in 2017. He was one of their best players after being borrowed from Celtic and scored in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hibernian, but couldn't face his parent club in the final.

That is in the mid-future of course and it is likely Mothrwell will be favourites despite being away from home.

For now, as sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel continues to patch up the squad to get them to the end of the season, as well as attempting to source a new manager, the Dons return to league business with the bottom two up next after a testing set of games that led to another manager being culled.

Eighth place is unacceptable given the financial outlay on the squad but now the Dons will have to kickstart their push for a place in the top six before a massive double-header at home to Celtic precedes the Steelmen travelling north aiming to prise Aberdeen's grip off the Scottish Cup silverware.

Dons fans, we asked for your views on the arrival of centre-back Liam Morrison on loan from Queens Park Rangers.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: I think Lutz Pfannenstiel's connections are really going to help our recruitment. This is a very positive start. Like Lyall Cameron, whether Morrison stays beyond the summer remains to be seen. He already has plenty of experience and games under his belt at a very good level, this can only help our defence in the short term. Hopefully bringing much more calmness and composure.

Andy: He ticks a lot of boxes. The last box to tick is "fits into the defensive line like a glove."

Eric: Great signing. Pair him with Jack Milne in the centre of defence and get Dante Polvara back in the midfield where he is more comfortable and will add a bit of strength and threat along with Cameron. This will provide a strong core through the team in a 4-4-2 formation.

Justin: Hopefully a great signing as he's obviously been highly regarded at a very young age so would love to see the best of him. We still need more players.

Ian: At last, a defender who is good in the air! He has a good pedigree and sounds like a very sensible young man. Wish him well.

Arch: Given that we have no manager, getting in players on loan to rescue the season is probably the right way to go, we don't want to be getting long-term signings who may not fit with what the new manager needs. A Scottish centre-back with some pedigree is the correct decision in the current situation. I'd like to see a proven Scottish striker in next.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn is emerging as the leading candidate for the vacancy at Aberdeen. (Pete O'Rourke on X), external

Aberdeen are close to signing Houston Dynamo's former St Mirren forward Toyosi Olusanya, 28. (Sky Sports), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Centre-back Liam Morrison is keen to grasp the opportunity of more first-team minutes at a "massive club" with "high expectations" after joining Aberdeen on loan.

The former Celtic and Bayern Munich youth player will spend the rest of the campaign on loan from English Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Capped 11 times for Scotland Under-21s, the defender has featured just 12 times this term but has played more than 60 games across spells with Wigan Athletic and QPR at the age of just 22.

"Being from Scotland, I know Aberdeen is a massive club with a great fanbase and high expectations," said Morrison.

"I'm really looking forward to coming back home and playing in the Scottish environment again. I need to play games and try to impress and this opportunity gives me the best chance to do that.

"If we stick together, I'm confident we can end the season strongly. I can't wait to get going."

Aberdeen remain managerless, with interim boss Peter Leven still in charge, but sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, who knows Morrison well from his time in Germany, has been influential in their January recruitment.

The 52-year-old German said: "I am familiar with Liam from his time playing in the academy in Munich.

"He is a modern defender who is composed on the ball and strong in the air. He has good experience in the English Championship and his arrival gives us added depth and quality in a key area of the pitch.

"As a young Scottish player, he also aligns well with the direction we want to take the squad."

Aberdeen fans, what do you make of the arrival of centre-back Morrison? Send us your thoughts.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

"Baby steps" is how Nicky Devlin described the win over Raith Rovers. That is the sad reality of where our season teeters in mid-January.

The narrow Scottish Cup victory - a first win in eight - was vital for confidence and trying to restore belief among the fans.

Belief was definitely needed after the divide caused by the loan signing of Lyall Cameron from Rangers.

While the midfielder's Dons debut showed what he can bring as he set up the winner and was named player of the match, the signing has left some fans feeling frustrated at the way we are operating in the transfer market.

On the pitch it was the same old story. Easy to defend against as we passed up chance after chance.

A rare but much-needed clean sheet will give the defence a boost, even if we did our best to concede at times with some haphazard defending.

Now the baby steps need to be built on and full points are required in our next two matches, against struggling pair Livingston and Kilmarnock.

It's a big couple of weeks on the pitch, in the transfer window and in the Pittodrie boardroom as we try to whittle down the candidates and appoint a new manager.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Aberdeen are keen on taking Queens Park Rangers' Scottish defender Liam Morrison, 22, on loan. (Sun), external

We asked for your views on Scottish Cup holders Aberdeen booking their place in the last 16 after a 1-0 win against Raith Rovers.

Here's what some of you said:

Fred: Good to grind out a win but the match clearly demonstrated our current level. We really need a forward who can actually score as our current crop seem not up to the task. The game was too close for comfort but we did progress.

Niall: It was a win but it wasn't pretty. Very nervy and reckless at the back and so poor in the opposition box. There was such a lack of zip on attack and we're just not clinical enough when it matters. A new manager needed soon to give some direction and leadership to this flailing squad.

Col: Never seen such a poor and lightweight Aberdeen team in over 45 years of watching them. Whoever was in charge of scouting and recruitment of most of these players need to be removed from their positions, if they haven't already. Need an experienced centre-half alongside Jack Milne and wingers that stop cutting inside all the time. Stop playing out from the back each and every time. Vary the play and the pace of play please! Lyall Cameron will make a difference, he's a good player.

Justin: Good to get through but Aberdeen need to get the ball forward and into the box so much faster, this slow sideways or backwards play is horrendous, predictable and just not working. We didn't look like we were in a league above.

Alan: It's a win, so we will take it, however it was another bleak display. We can't create chances, let alone finish them and defensively we are awful. How Dante Polvara ends up starting in defence is beyond me. It's clear he wasn't comfortable. We need a solid defender in this window, but I doubt we will get one. At the start of the season it seemed a good squad, but clearly the players aren't performing anywhere near the level expected. It's a big mess to clean up for any incoming manager.

Eric: This was a real struggle. Raith put pressure on every player with the ball and forced us into numerous mistakes. Our transition was slow and laborious, giving time for Raith to reorganise and restrict our chances. We really need to up the pace and work much, much harder.

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Aberdeen interim manager Peter Leven: "We saw a few upsets yesterday and we didn't want that so obviously I'm delighted to get through.

"I thought we started really well and got the goal, then made a couple of mistakes and looked a wee bit nervy. But again we had loads of shots and I thought our corners were really dangerous today.

"We shouldn't really be hanging on at the end but I thought we could have been a bit more clinical.

"I was a wee bit disappointed with some slack passes that made us a little but nervous and that's what I said to them at half time. The second half performance was really good apart from that need to be clinical.

"It's possibly from confidence because we haven't scored in a few games but credit to Raith, I think they had about nine blocks so they were putting their bodies on the line. With a wee bit more composure we could have had three or four.

"I thought Lyall Cameron was excellent. He's only been in one day but you can see his quality and obviously with more time he'll get better.

"I don't know if I'll be in charge next weekend. We've got training tomorrow so I'll sit down and we'll go through the game.

"But I'm just taking it day by day."

Jack Milne's early goal edged Aberdeen into the Scottish Cup last 16 as the holders saw off Raith Rovers with a 1-0 win at Pittodrie.

Read the full match report here

Let us know your thoughts

Queen's Park have rejected a five-figure offer from French Ligue 2 club Amiens for 24-year-old striker Josh Fowler, who has also attracted interest from Aberdeen, St Mirren and an Irish club. (Daily Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sportscene presenter

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Dougie Imrie hopes his Raith Rovers side can benefit from the pressure on Aberdeen in Sunday's Scottish Cup tie, which is live on BBC One Scotland and iPlayer.

"The pressure is all on Aberdeen," said Imrie.

"They just got rid of Jimmy [Thelin] a couple of weeks ago, Peter [Leven has] taken over in interim charge and they have not won in a long period either.

"We need to use every advantage to help us that we can.

"The first quarter of the game, it's really, really important that we don't lose a goal and allow Aberdeen and their support to get their tails up."

Imrie is also hopeful striker Lewis Vaughan could be fit in time for the trip to Pittodrie.

"Any time you came up against Raith Rovers he was a player you pinpointed could be a danger," added Imrie.

"He's a terrific player at this level. Top player, a lot of movement, very good at the top end of the pitch. Once we get him back he is going to add massive value to us."

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Aberdeen have sold striker Ester Sokler to top-flight Serbian club FK Radnicki 1923 for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old's form on a season-long loan - six goals in 12 outings - has prompted Radnicki to exercise their option to buy the Slovenian.

Sokler, who was due to be out of contract at Pittodrie this summer, joined the Dons in summer 2023 from NK Radomlje in his homeland and netted 12 times in 72 appearances.

"Everyone at Aberdeen thanks Ester for his contribution and wishes him all the very best for the future," said the club.