DAVID MARTINDALE has all but confirmed that striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas will be joining Aberdeen this summer.
The Livingston frontman caught the eye of Pittodrie boss Stephen Glass after netting three goals against the Dons during 2021.
And now Martindale has revealed that a “gentleman’s agreement” has been settled between Emmanuel-Thomas and Livi to ensure a fee will be heading the way of the West Lothian club.
Asked if the target man would be joining Aberdeen in the summer window, Martindale said: “Yes. I had a gentleman’s agreement with big JET. I’ve been open and honest about it, if he could go over to foreign shores and pick up bigger money, he’s not getting any younger.
“With the finances at Livingston, there’s no way a player of that ability should be playing for Livingston, if I’m honest. I got him due to Covid. It took us a long time to get him up to speed, so I think everybody’s seen what he’s capable of in the last six weeks to two months.
“With the JET staying in Scotland, I’ve also got a handshake with him that we would command a fee if that was a possibility. JET’s agent has been dealing with that side of things, but I know it’s been ongoing. I’ll pick that up this week.
“Would I love to see JET staying in Scotland? Yes, I would. Would it help Livingston Football Club financially if he stays in Scotland? Yes, it would. They’re not getting him for nothing!”
After Livingston’s 0-0 draw with St Johnstone, Martindale also opened up on the future of midfielder Djibril Diani.
The on-loan Grasshoppers man has impressed since moving to Scotland in February and Martindale would be open to extending his stay further.
He added: “I’ve still got to speak to Grasshoppers and I’ve still got to speak to his agent, but I thought he did quite well today. I thought he did really well against Rangers also.
“So, that will be a conversation I will have. But, again, Djibril’s on decent money with Grasshoppers and what I can probably offer him is different.
“Then, you’ve got the problem because he’s in here on a temporary work permit and we’ve got the problem of getting him a more permanent work permit. The temporary one runs out in June, so we’ve got those problems to overcome.
“That will be a conversation. His agent is based in Switzerland and I’ve got a very good relationship with him, so that will be one I’ll be talking to later on. But, at this moment in time, he’ll not be at Livingston Football Club next season.”
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