Aberdeen to tap into South American transfer market as Alan Burrows details forgotten Atlanta United link-up

Alan Burrows is confident Aberdeen can use their forgotten link with Atlanta United to recruit top talents from across The Pond in the next couple of transfer windows.

The Dons entered a strategic partnership with Atlanta way back in 2019, with the MLS side's parent company AMB Sports & Entertainment investing £2million into the club shortly before Dave Cormack took up the reins from Stewart Milne as Aberdeen chairman. Former president of the MLS Darren Eales previously held a position on Aberdeen's board, and that presence continues with non-executive board member Dimitrios Efstathiou being re-elected as a director at Pittodrie at Monday night's annual general meeting.

But the link-up between the two clubs has yet to prove fruitful when it comes to the transfer market. Aberdeen signed midfielder Jon Gallagher and full back Jack Gurr from Atalanta in 2019 and 2021 respectively, but both players failed to make the grade in the Granite City. Going the other way, Atlanta picked up Venezuela international Ronald Hernandez after his ill-fated stint at Pittodrie but the wing-back has been little more than a bit-part player in the States since his arrival three and a half-years ago.

But chief executive Burrows insists the Dons are determined to make the most of their partnership going forward to help Jimmy Thelin's recruitment drive. Speaking at Monday night's AGM, he said: "What we get from that is opportunities around scouting and coaching development. There is also potential for off-field commercial opportunities.

"I think where we see a positive benefit for both parties is through information sharing and player sharing. We have a very established scouting network in Europe which they have access to through the relevant