ABERDEEN look likely to be slapped with a six-figure bill by the end of this month as a tribunal date has been set to decide a fee for Lewis Ferguson.

The promising 18-year-old made the move from Hamilton Academical to Pittodrie after signing a pre-contract in May and started as the Dons held Burnley to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier last week.

But the club has been at loggerheads with Hamilton over a compensation fee, with Aberdeen's initial bid of £100k deemed well below the mark by the Lanarkshire side.

The dispute will be settled by the SPFL on August 21, with the Dons required to pay the amount decided within 30 days.

SportTimes understands Accies have set their value as £900,000 for the midfielder, son of former Rangers star Derek and nephew of Barry, plus a sell-on fee, though it is likely a lower compromise will be reached.

The Hamilton youth product has been watched intently by scouts from English Premier League sides in recent weeks, including Crystal Palace.

The compensation process for academy players is based upon case studies of players deemed to be operating at the same level to help ascertain market value.

The controversial dispute over Charlie Telfer's move from Dundee United to Rangers in 2014 ended in the Ibrox side having to pay £204,000 for a player who had made just one substitute appearance in League One, making many clubs reluctant to take such issues to tribunal.

After 12 Premiership appearances for the Accies, Aberdeen could end up paying over the odds for Ferguson, but it is a risk Derek McInnes is willing to take.

The manager previously insisted the fee would be no obstacle in his side's pursuit of the midfielder.

"We're happy with the amount of training compensation to pay," said McInnes. "He plays with an edge to his game, has two good feet and is technically good for one so young."