Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes admits they face a battle to keep hold of defender Scott McKenna.

Scotland international defender McKenna, 22, has reportedly been watched a number of times by Wolverhampton Wanderers scouts and he's expected to leave his homeland in the coming transfer window.

Aston Villa made a late move to sign him in the summer but saw their £7million bid knocked back by Aberdeen.

“I'm hoping we can keep Scott for as long as possible but I am realistic enough to know that somebody of Scott's ability is always going to be on the radar," McInnes told the Press & Journal.

“Just about every club in the English Championship and the Premier League have been regular visitors to our games over the last while.

“There will be clubs looking at a lot of my players, particularly Scott, who has become a key fixture in the international team as well as a key player for Aberdeen at his age.

“It is natural there is going to be interest. We will deal with whatever comes our way and not fret too much in November about what might happen in January."