STEWART MILNE insists Aberdeen will work ‘as hard as we can’ to convince Derek McInnes to stay at Pittodrie should Rangers or West Bromwich Albion make a move for him this month.

The 46-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a return to Ibrox as the Light Blues board continue their search for Pedro Caixinha’s replacement in the dugout.

Rangers have yet to make an approach for any candidate almost four weeks on from Caixinha’s sacking and it is another of McInnes’ former clubs have now been credited with an interest in his services after Tony Pulis was removed as Baggies boss on Monday.

ead more: Former Rangers star Andrei Kanchelskis: I thought there was no way Old Firm would be so tough - then they broke my arm

McInnes turned down a switch to Sunderland in the summer and Ibrox remains the most likely destination should he decide to bring an end to his successful spell in the North East.

The loss of McInnes would be a significant blow to Aberdeen as they look to finish second in the Premiership once again but chairman Milne isn’t fazed by the talk over his manager’s future.

He said: “There has been no approach from anyone to speak to Derek and, as both Derek and I have said on many occasions, the reality is that if a manager is doing well in Scotland and there are vacancies come about in England, there is a pretty high chance that Derek McInnes or some other manager in Scotland will be associated with that job.

Read more: Derek McInnes the right man for Rangers – Andrei Kanchelskis

“Speculation about Derek is a good sign in as many as they only speculate about managers that are doing well. I think everyone knows the job that Derek has done over the last four years or so and speculation is just something we have to deal with.

“I don’t want to speculate about any hypothetical situations. We will deal with situations if and when they arise. Other than that, I wouldn’t like to say any more.

“You wouldn’t expect me to say anything other than if there was an offer for Derek that we will work as hard as we can to try and convince him there is still a job to be done here and this is the right place for the next stage of Derek’s career.”