Charlie Adam praises James McPake’s ‘bottle’ as move to Dundee edges closer

Scotland midfielder thinks deal can be struck

Charlie Adam is keen on joining Dundee after leaving Reading. Picture: PA

Charlie Adam has praised Dundee manager James McPake for having “the bottle” to phone him up as a move to the club he supported as a boy appeared to draw nearer.

The former Scotland midfielder, pictured, who is out of contract after a season at Reading, believes it is “likely” he will sign for the Dens Park club.

The two parties are trying to be “creative” in order to put a financial package together to bring the 34-year-old home to Dundee prior to next month’s Championship kick-off.

“He (McPake) basically had the bottle to phone me up and say: ‘are you interested?’” said Adam. “Some managers might have been sitting there thinking, ‘I am not too sure, he might be a bit expensive?’

“But he called me up and said: ‘I want to talk to you, are you willing to come up and see us?’ They were good talks. We will see how it pans out over the next bit. I appreciate Dundee have made the call. I am giving them the time and effort because it is a club I would love to do well at.”

Asked if he thought a move was likely, Adam, told Radio Scotland’s Sportsound: “Yes, I do – I believe so.”

He acknowledged Dundee’s precarious financial situation after losing so much income due to the impact of Covid-19. Adam said he was attracted by the thought of helping Dundee’s young players improve. He played under Gordon Strachan, Dundee’s technical director, for Scotland.

“The club is in a position where financially they cannot be stretched, I obviously know there’s a wage budget and the way they’re going to be, so we’re trying to be creative in how we can get a deal done,” he said.

“It’s something that interests me. It is my boyhood club and it is where I would like to play. It is an opportunity to go and learn under a new manager and obviously Gordon (Strachan) is there, so that is something that entices me as well.”

He added: “It would be great for me personally, but it would also be great for the club and the supporters if they can get a lift. At the end of last season they were just starting to get a run of wins together when Covid hit.

“It will be a tough league to get out of but hopefully when the season starts we can be good enough to be challenging. It’s an opportunity to go to a club where there are young players like Finn Robertson and Josh Mulligan, who I can try and help and give them the benefit of my experience as a senior player.”

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