Hughes was with McGhee at Motherwell for two seasons

Mark McGhee is hopeful of making Stephen Hughes, the midfielder out of contract with former club Motherwell, one of his first signings at Aberdeen.

Hughes, 26, has also been linked with a move to Hearts and clubs in England.

"I'm fairly hopeful," said the new Dons boss. "So far, Stephen's options that he's been given by his agent and by clubs don't really jump out at him.

"I think we have an advantage in the sense that he knows us and he likes working with us."

Hughes, who started his career with Rangers, spent two seasons with McGhee at Motherwell after a similar spell with Leicester City and was offered a new contract by the Fir Park club.

Jim Paterson, who quit Motherwell for Plymouth Argyle in January 2008, is another target for the Aberdeen manager.

But reports that Maros Klimpl, who is a free agent after his loan spell with Motherwell from Midtjylland, is poised for a move north are wide of the mark.

"Maros Klimpl is not someone I've been looking at," McGhee told Aberdeen's website.

I've initiated some discussions between the club and his agent and Jamie Smith himself Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee

On Paterson, however, he added: "He's a good footballer, he's left-sided, he gives you options in left midfield and at left-back.

"I'm just trying to look at all the permutations. Jim Paterson is one that's on the radar."

McGhee is also willing to hold talks with Jamie Smith, who is out of contract this summer and was allowed to hold signing talks with Toronto FC by previous Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood.

The former Celtic and Den Haag winger has been plagued by injury during his time at Pittodrie and McGhee has yet to decide whether to offer him a new deal.

"At this stage, I wouldn't say he is someone I'd like to keep.

"What I would do, I'd like to explore exactly what went on with him, the injuries he has had.

"I've initiated some discussions between the club and his agent and Jamie himself just so that I can try to get to the bottom of why someone who could really be a good player for Aberdeen is leaving and why he has had these injury problems.

"I just want to examine that. I'm not saying at the moment we are going to re-sign, but I'm going to look into it."

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