Sam Cosgrove likely to be sold in coming months, says Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes

This transfer window and the next one are key to maximising the striker’s value

Aberdeen's Sam Cosgrove rejected a move to the French second tier.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has admitted that the club will likely need to sell top scorer Sam Cosgrove in the coming months.

Cosgrove moved to the Dons from Carlisle United in January 2018 for a fee of just £20,000. Earlier this month the 23-year-old Englishman rejected a move to French second-tier club Guingamp after Aberdeen accepted a bid in excess of £2 million.

McInnes was delighted that his top scorer chose to remain at Pittodrie rather than move to northwestern France but concedes that Cosgrove will need to leave soon if Aberdeen are to "maximise" the fee they receive for a player who has scored 44 goals in 87 appearances.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme, McInnes said: "If it's a strong offer, it has to be looked at in the circumstances.

"We've been pretty strong about the fact we won't sell willy-nilly, but the overall package [from Guingamp] was substantial. And we know that this window and next is the best chance for us to maximise the potential of Sam because he's got two seasons left of his deal."

The Dons manager, who anticipates further interest in Cosgrove, added: "I spoke to Sam and said it was a move he should take if it felt right and the finances were right.

"It was entirely his decision but I don't think it was financially right for him or he thought that France was his next step. Some might say that's a lack of ambition, but others might say it shows the confidence he has in himself.

"I think he'll be on the radar of a lot of people and his name will have been discussed. I'm pretty sure we will be tested but it's got to be right for everybody."