Aberdeen: Jim Goodwin speaks squad size, signings, Christian Ramirez and Liam Scales plans

In the intervening period Aberdeen have managed to secure a record fee for Calvin Ramsay who joined Liverpool, while adding a further four players with the defensive trio of Liam Scales, Anthony Stewart and Jayden Richardson and North Macedonian striker Bojan Miovski.

The positivity around Pittodrie is beginning to return ahead of Saturday's friendly at Buckie Thistle and the club’s training camp in Spain. Whisper it, but fans are beginning to get excited about the season ahead.

It won’t stop there, however. Aberdeen are continuing to talk to targets as Jim Goodwin looks to add to his squad, including pace in the attacking areas as he targets a “tight and competitive” squad, complemented by the club’s best young talents.

‘Competition for places’

"I don't like putting a number on it because if I don't get that volume of players in then the fans may be disappointed," Goodwin said with regards to further additions.

"We've got five over the line just now, if Miovski's medical and all that goes to plan, we are talking to another three or four at the moment. I'd love to say another five or six but if we get five of those I'd be delighted.

“We've promoted two or three of the young lads up into the first-team set-up. Jack Milne was involved last season on the bench because the squad was quite light. Ryan Duncan had a very successful loan period with Peterhead and he will remain part of the group throughout pre-season and we will make a decision on him as well.

"You are looking at 17 or 18 senior players and then supported by three or four younger players. I think 22 is a good number.

"If you can have a couple of players in each position that's pretty much the way to do it. I don't want a squad of 30 or anything like that. There is nothing worse than sticking guys in the stand on match day.

"We will try and keep it as tight and competitive as possible. I always want to have that competition for places on a match day.”

Possible exits and Ramirez

With Gary Woods exiting after the club came to an agreement with the goalkeeper, the number of senior players stands at 19. Further departures are expected with “one or two… told they’re free to go”.

“We have had conversations with a few players, they know their positions at the moment,” Goodwin said.

“I never want to stand in the way of people playing football. I know what it’s like, I always wanted to play week in week out myself.

“So we don’t want any members of the squad unhappy that they’re not playing as much as they want.

“If they are used to being in the starting XI or competing for a place in the team, we won’t stand in their way.”

Plenty of talk surrounded the future of Christian Ramirez at the end of the season.

The American hit 15 goals in his debut season but started just one of the final five games. He has returned and the signs point to him remaining at Pittodrie.

“Christian has come back looking great, he’s got a hell of a suntan so the weather in California must have been great," Goodwin said.