Ross McCrorie's Aberdeen future assessed as two Bristol City transfer factors could hold key to ultimate decision

Paul Hartley reckons Bristol City have Premier League appeal as they step up their chase to land Aberdeen’s Ross McCrorie.

The Ashton Gate side are in advanced talks with Dons to seal a £2million summer move for their vice-captain. Aberdeen fans have questioned why McCrorie would leave European-chasing for a bottom-half team in England’s second tier but Hartley reckons it’s about the future.

The current Cove boss played for Bristol City before he went to Pittodrie and knows they have the facilities and infrastructure to get into the top flight. He said: “I do believe Bristol City are geared up to the Premier League. They are a big club. They are a good club with average crowds of around 15,000. I really enjoyed my time there. It’s still the same owner, Steve Landown. They have great training facilities and it’s also a great city to stay in. The Championship is a big league and you can see the attraction of it.

“Ross has come into good form over the last couple of months. For me, he suits that league. He is a big powerful player. He is versatile, young and Scottish. England is an attraction to any Scottish player now. That is where a lot of the players now see themselves.”

The Robins have been bobbing along in the Championship but Hartley knows the have harbour lofty ambitions. They have invested heavily on and off the park, with McCrorie seen as a key signing who would be handed a healthy lift on his weekly wage.

Hartley said: “They have spent a lot of money, back to when Derek McInnes was manager. They’re definitely a team geared towards the Premier League. Even when I was playing we were averaging 15,000 at home games. They just haven’t got there and they have gone through a few managers. They are a really passionate