ABERDEEN boss Mark McGhee is desperate to strengthen his Dons side - but will not rush to use up his transfer budget before Saturday's SPL opener.
With three weeks to go until the transfer window gently slides to a close, the new Dons manager has plenty time to ensure he brings in the highest quality players available - in the positions that most need covered.
But the difference between the Dons' defence in the Sigma poundings and the clean sheet against Premiership club Hull City was plain to see, and McGhee will look to bring in a centre-back before the SPL season opener against Celtic.
He told RedWeb: "Putting in a centre half who looked a proper centre half alongside Andy Considine made a huge difference; someone who was winning those first headers really transformed the way we were able to play.
"It also gave the boys a boost, in increases the competition for places, it increases the options in the system we can play, it gives me options in terms on substitutions it puts pressure on everyone in the best possible sense."
Top of McGhee's list will be 27-year-old Swindon Town defender Jerel Ifil, who impressed in the 1-0 victory at the KC Stadium.
New manager McGhee did not want to give too much away about his opinion on the player after he blamed the building-up of trialist Reda Johnson in the media for losing out to Plymouth in the race for his signature.
But Ifil will join a number of other trialists, including Craig Rocastle, Rohan Ricketts, Randy Mullet, Le Harve defender Idrissa Alassane and former Fulham youth product Mazim Ahmed, at Pittodrie this week for assessment.
McGhee added: "We will now look at them over the next week and take stock before making decisions.
"I do not know if we will take all of them on board but we will certainly hope to sign a couple of them.
"If we decide want them we will act as quickly as possible."
McGhee also confirmed that Peter Pawlett and Zander Diamond will both be back in training today with the rest of the squad.
