Any hopes of David Turnbull making a swift return to Scottish football have been played down, with journalist Scott Burns ruling out a move to Aberdeen due to financial hurdles.
Turnbull left Celtic just 18 months ago, having collected six major domestic trophies during his time at the club. Known for his long-range goal threat, the midfielder never quite cemented a consistent starting role under successive managers at Parkhead.
After making the switch to Cardiff City in February 2024, his new challenge in the English Championship quickly turned sour. Cardiff endured a miserable season and were relegated to League One after finishing bottom of the table.
With his club now operating in the third tier, speculation has grown about Turnbull potentially moving back north. Aberdeen, where CEO Alan Burrows previously worked with Turnbull at Motherwell, have been touted as a possible destination.
Journalist Scott Burns explained why a deal for Turnbull is currently off the cards.
He said: (RecordSport), “I think this one is unlikely. David Turnbull is on good money at Cardiff City. He is a player the chief executive, Alan Burrows, knows well and would love to do.
“I just think finances would be the killer on that front, if the player was to consider coming back to Aberdeen. The Dons are definitely looking to add to their midfield options.”
Burns’ comments make it clear that money is the main issue. Turnbull is on a big wage at Cardiff, and that’s proving too much for a club like Aberdeen to match.
The Dons are still on the lookout for midfielders this summer, but Turnbull doesn’t look like a realistic option just now. The ex-Celtic man still has time to turn things around, though he looks set to stay in League One for the time being.
What happens next in Turnbull’s career remains to be seen, but any Scottish side wanting to bring him back will need to find the cash to make it happen.
