Stefan Gartenmann has Aberdeen FC priorities straight as loan star puts Jimmy Thelin talks on the back burner

Stefan Gartenmann has put all talks on his future on hold until he gets Aberdeen safe in the Premiership.

The defender is currently on a season-long loan from Midtjylland. The Dons had previously been in discussions to make it a permanent arrangement but the 27-year-old has put them on the back burner with the club just five points above from the relegation play-off. Gartenmann confirmed: “We will take that in the future. “I think we have to be safe first. We have to make sure we are in the Premiership next season and from there we can take things on and I can speak to people at the club, including the manager. “We can take care of that in the coming weeks. “I haven’t given things much thought in the recent weeks, if I am being honest.”

The Dane expects to get Aberdeen well-clear of the drop zone but all the clubs from Hibs in seventh all the way to 11th-placed Ross County could still finish second bottom.

Interim Aberdeen boss Peter Leven has already told his players that he wants five wins out of five in the split. They open up their campaign with two home games, against Motherwell this weekend and then St Johnstone. They are away to Hibs, home to Livingston and finish off with a trip to Ross County on the final day. Gartenmann knows that the semi-final display has to be the bar for the rest of Aberdeen’s performance this season. He believes if they hit those heights then they won’t be in any danger.

The Dons star stated: “Hopefully, five wins, although that is easier said than done. If we take just 80 percent of what we showed at Hampden then I am sure we will be fine. The semi-final needs to be the goal for all our performances. It is easier showing up at Hampden than away to Livi or Ross County. That is what we need