ABERDEEN are one of FOUR Scottish clubs battling to sign Stevie May.

Dons boss Derek McInnes wants to take the Preston striker on loan to Pittodrie until the end of the season.

4 Four Scottish clubs are chasing Stevie May Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

He faces competition from Hearts, Hibs and Dundee for his signature, but SunSport understands teaming up again with McInnes would be May’s preferred option.

The 24-year-old former St Johnstone star has been out injured since tearing his cruciate ligament in November 2015 but has recently returned to playing reserve team football.

Preston boss Simon Grayson is keen for him to head out on loan in order to get playing again – with a view to coming back to the Championship club fully fit in the summer.

But he needs to get another striker in first, so Derek McInnes and the other interested bosses will have to bide their time.

However, if Preston do manage to bring someone else on board, they will sanction May's return to Scotland.

4 Stevie May hasn't made impact he hoped he would south of the border Credit: EMPICS Sport

Meanwhile the Dons have told Cardiff to get serious if they want to land Jonny Hayes.

It’s likely to take a bid of £1million or more for Aberdeen to sell to the Bluebirds.

McInnes has booted out two bids, insisting they are nowhere near the winger’s valuation.

He said: “We’ve had another offer from Cardiff for Jonny, but, bizarrely, it’s the same offer, just structured a bit differently. It was rejected.

4 Derek McInnes doesn't want to lose Jonny Hayes Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

4 The Dons have knocked back two bids for Hayes Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

“Is it unsettling for him? It possibly can be, but Jonny accepts our reasons for rejecting it because he thinks he’s worth a lot more as well.

“That’s three times we have had them on now, with two bids, and they have been told it’s nowhere near our valuation of him.

“If they value him the way we do, they’ll need to be serious with their offer.

“He is invaluable to us in terms of his influence and his performances, but sometimes there comes a time when you get an offer where you have to weigh things up. At this stage we are way short of being there.

“There’s nothing we can do about it, we just have to get on with our work.”

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