DEREK McInnes has refused to rule out the possibility of Aberdeen selling Kenny McLean in January after the midfielder revealed he would not be signing a new contract at Pittodrie.

McInnes is hopeful McLean, who was linked with a move to Rangers during the summer, will stay with his club until his current deal expires at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

However, he admitted the Ladbrokes Premiership club could cash in on the once-capped Scotland internationalist if they receive a decent offer for him in the January transfer window.

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“Kenny unfortunately has indicated that he is going to move on at the end of the season,” he said as he looked ahead to the league game against Celtic this evening.

“I have been pushing for an answer to find out exactly where he is with it and, while it wasn’t the answer I was hoping for, I totally respect it and feel grateful for the fact he has made that decision early. It helps me plan for life without Kenny here.

“That’s football. His contract is up, he is quite within his rights to go and look at something different and I respect that. While I am disappointed he has come to that decision, I am still looking forward to working with him for the rest of the season.”

McInnes added: “I have it in my head I am working with him for the rest of the season. But like everything else we can only control things until then. If we get an offer in January then it may well be something we would consider.

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“But I am thinking I have Kenny to work with until the end of the season. I am not thinking of replacing him in January. But, again, if we are made an offer it would be considered like everything else.

“We have considered previous offers before and it wasn’t in our interests to do anything. That may well be different in January.”

McInnes believes how former St. Mirren man McLean acquits himself in the coming weeks will determine the level of the club he moves on to when he leaves Aberdeen either in January or in the summer.

“Kenny’s performances between now and the end of the season will dictate where his options will be, like any player coming out of contract,” he said. “There is a difference between being a free transfer and a brilliant Bosman.

“I think if Kenny plays to his potential on a regular basis - and he hasn’t done that since the start of the season, by his own admission - but his performances in the last couple of games have been excellent.

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"The way he affected the game at Easter Road, his assist, was excellent. That, for me, will differentiate for Kenny the level of club and interest he attracts.

“If he can be a goal threat and score more goals and more assists and affect results in that final third for us that may well be the difference in what’s offered to him.”

Meanwhile, McInnes has stressed he is concentrating fully on bringing silverware to Aberdeen after his Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers tipped him to succeed Gordon Strachan as Scotland manager.

The former Rangers player has also been persistently linked with a move to Ibrox, where Pedro Caixinha is under mounting pressure, in recent months.

“I am committed here,” he said. “My work is here and like everything else you get used to speculation. That’s the way it is for managers doing well. Just as you run the risk of losing your job if you are perceived to be doing less well.

“It’s been a decent period for us and you might well get linked to other jobs. But I am neither up nor down with all that to be honest. I am just trying to live with it. You possibly get used to it.

“I understand that’s the way it is and it’s not the worst think in the world to be mentioned, but at the same time it’s not the most important thing at the minute.”