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ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes would welcome an investigation by football authorities into their failed attempts to sign Inverness midfielder Greg Tansey.

McInnes is baffled by Caley Thistle's refusal to allow Tansey permission to speak to the Dons, who believe they triggered a clause in his contract by submitting a £200,000 bid.

Aberdeen now go into their crucial match against Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic having failed to secure cover for injured midfielders Ryan Jack and Willo Flood.

"There has to be some sort of guidance as to how these things can be resolved quickly," McInnes said.

"Greg's agent told us about the clause weeks ago. We met the clause. I don't actually know why he's not here. I would actually welcome some sort of investigation because it's unclear why he isn't here and we feel he should be.

(Image: SNS Group)

"We wanted Greg and Greg was keen to come here but that's between the player and Inverness now and we move on."

McInnes does not feel his club did anything wrong in the saga and is confident his Inverness counterpart agrees.

"I spoke to John Hughes this morning and we have acted professionally, honestly and with integrity throughout this and he agrees with that," he said.

"So there's absolutely no problem from John's point of view.

"We worked extremely hard to get the player. Two-hundred grand isn't easy for us to put together and I've had to generate a lot of that through bits and pieces.

"We felt the offer would trigger a clause in the player's contract that would allow him to be here. We understand Inverness's desire to keep him but we were as surprised as anyone that that wasn't met.

"The only thing we are maybe guilty of is not going in a wee bit earlier. But even on Friday morning when I found out that we could make the offer, it was my call not to disrupt Inverness' preparations for their game on Saturday.

"When their game was called off, we put the offer in on Saturday morning. We always got a response back and it was clear Inverness were keen to keep their player and I understand that.

"But all the same we have worked extremely hard to bring the player here and it doesn't lie with us why he isn't here. You would need to ask them."

McInnes now turns his attentions to one of the biggest games of the season and he is determined to cut Celtic's six-point lead.

"It's always about the win," said McInnes, who brings on-loan MK Dons striker Simon Church into his squad in place of David Goodwillie, who moved to Ross County on a temporary basis.

"Of course we see the importance of three points. We enjoy playing at home and we relish the opportunity to try and do that. There's nothing to be frightened of.

"Celtic are always the toughest challenge for us but it's a fixture that gives us the most opportunity, to win and inflict some damage on them as well. You always have to take that opportunity against teams round about you."

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