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Derek McInnes has told Swansea City they will have to pay mega-bucks to land Scott McKenna and insists Scotland’s top stopper should be looking to go straight into the English Premier League.

The Championship club enquired about the 21-year-old Aberdeen star but were warned off making a bid ahead of Thursday night’s crucial Battle of Britain second leg tie against Burnley.

Record Sport revealed last month that Pittodrie chiefs have slapped a £10million price tag on McKenna’s head following news of Swans’ interest.

The Welsh outfit are on the verge of selling Alfie Mawson to newly-promoted Fulham for a fee of up to £20m and McInnes is adamant McKenna has the potential to be better than the former England Under-21 defender.

Former Dons loanees James Maddison and Danny Ward have also joined Leicester City for £24m and £12m respectively.

Dons rejected a £1m bid for McKenna from Hull City in January and McInnes is resigned to losing the player he believes is the best central defender in the country.

Asked about Swansea City ’s interest, he said: “There’s not been an official approach but we’ve had a conversation with Swansea.

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“They asked about Scott’s availability and that was it. I don’t expect them to make an offer but if they do it’s not something we would be encouraging.

“We are not saying he is not for sale but any offer for McKenna will need to be way over the top - whether that’s in this window, the next window or a future window.

“It’s not a matter of if Scott McKenna leaves Aberdeen. It’s when. And from my point of view, given what we want to do this season, I am just hoping it is not this summer.

“Swansea are on the verge of selling a centre half for £18-20million and for me Scott McKenna will be every bit as good - and has potential to be even better - than the boy who has just left.

“I think he is Scotland’s best centre half now and we are well aware of his ability and that the vultures are circling.

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“Swansea were not encouraged to make a bid but we cannot stop them making a bid. It was two or three days ago so we have not heard anything. I wouldn’t be totally surprised if clubs make contact before the window closes.

“No disrespect to the Championship clubs because they have a lot of money to spend but I think Scott will bypass the Championship and go straight to the Premier League.

“And you could look at Danny Ward and James Maddison. They go for £24m and £12m and a couple of seasons ago they were at Aberdeen.

“The valuation of the Scottish Premiership player is not always accurate. Virgil van Dijk leaves and all of a sudden Liverpool buy him for £75m or whatever the fee was.

“Nobody would have dared to pay Celtic that for him. He had to prove himself at Southampton first but he was not any better at Southampton than he was at Celtic.

“It’s just the league he is operating in. We are on the border of the richest league in the world and our league is getting further and further away.

(Image: Leicester City FC)

“Until we can do TV deals that help the financial situation I’d imagine Scottish players will be easy to plunder - but Scott McKenna won’t be easy to plunder.”

McInnes has no fears over playing McKenna at Turf Moor tonight with the tie poised at 1-1 and believes it’s another opportunity to show what he can do on the big stage.

He said: “I would always speak to a player if an offer has been put in. There hasn’t been an offer but out of respect we let his agent know and let Scott know as well.

“He wants to establish himself as Scotland’s best centre half. This is a good stage, he is up against good strikers. Scott and others will need to be fully concentrated as they were last week.”

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McInnes has Andy Considine available again after illness and has urged his team to strike first and crank up the pressure on the Clarets.

He said: “I always find in the second leg in Europe the dynamics can change quickly depending on who strikes first.

“I remember a 0-0 at Pittodrie and going to Groningen and we scored early in the game and the pressure was on them.

“It was a shock to them and they had to change. It’s important to try and strike first if we can do that but the game an ebb and flow and if Burnley score we still need to score.

“We are not down here to be gallant losers, or to be good old Aberdeen who put up a fight and were better than people thought. Our aim is to get through to tie.”