Why Dundee must be ‘super-aggressive’ in January recruitment plus feedback on loan stars as potential recalls addressed.

Yan Dhanda, Tony Yogane, and Cam Congreve are the Dark Blues’ three major loan players.Dundee must be “super-aggressive” in the January transfer window, claims manager Steven Pressley. Following a disappointing start to the season, the Dark Blues understand that they must improve the quality of their squad in order to remain in the Premiership.

Pressley’s team is currently 10th in the division, with Saturday’s home game against Falkirk marking the halfway point of the season. And the head coach understands that improving in the second half of the season will depend on recruitment.

With the winter window opening in a weeks’ time, Pressley was asked if there are any quickfire deals lined up to come in.

“There’s nothing definite yet,” he said.”However, we need to bring them in early. I understand how difficult this is, but I believe we must be really aggressive in our recruitment efforts.

“Because we need to get our season up and running as soon as possible. “We have two games before the end of the year; if we can produce positive results, an infusion of new players will really galvanise the team.

“It’s a key period for us on a number of fronts.”

Dundee are connected with a deal for Burnley’s Joe Bevan.

Loan recalls?

Departures are likely in January. The Dark Blues aim to keep Cam Congreve, Tony Yogane, and Yan Dhanda.

Parent clubs can recall loan players when transfer windows open. In recent years, Dundee’s team has been disrupted in January as crucial loan players are recalled.

Owen Beck returned to Liverpool in 2024, while frontman Zach Robinson returned to AFC Wimbledon after winning the Championship the previous year.

Both would end the season at Dens. And that is what Pressley hopes to see from the present trio, albeit without the drama of the players returning to their parent clubs. “David Longwell spoke with Swansea, and there was no intention from them to recall Cam Congreve,” Pressley disclosed.

“That may change, but there was no intention. They’re quite satisfied. “He has played a lot of minutes.He has some good numbers. They’ll believe his value has risen. “I spoke to Brentford about Tony.

They reminded me that Tony needed to play a specific number of games in order for the minutes to be where they should be, as they often do. However, he is quite near to those minutes.

“That was very much what we and they wanted him to be at. They appear to be extremely satisfied at the time.

I don’t see Brentford bringing Tony back. “We haven’t heard anything about Yan, but I would expect that the way things are going, that will be alright. “Right now, I think they’ll stay.However, things can always change.

“They have all played a lot of games so from a development perspective I think their parent clubs will be quite satisfied.” Dhanda, meanwhile, has already stated that his input from Hearts manager Derek McInnes signals he will remain at Dens Park.

He recounted: “I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and he just said he’s happy that I’m playing football because he knows that’s all I wanted to do.”

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