Defender Ash Taylor, who had been targeted by Carlisle United for a possible summer move, has instead rejoined his former club Aberdeen.

The Blues had been eyeing centre-half Taylor, whose contract at Northampton was recently cancelled by mutual consent.

But it is understood United were priced out on wages as the big 28-year-old instead moved to the Scottish Premiership.

The move has seen Taylor sign a two-year deal with the Dons for whom he previously played from 2014-17.

Aberdeen's head of recruitment is Russ Richardson, who was chief scout at Brunton Park during Paul Simpson's reign.

Taylor revealed a chance meeting with Richardson, whilst he was out of the picture at Northampton under Keith Curle last season, helped lead to his return to Pittodrie.

Speaking in the Aberdeen Press & Journal, Taylor said: “In the first season things didn’t go to plan for the team but on a personal level it went very well.

“I won some awards and they made me captain. This year didn’t go quite so well with the change of manager.

“Things change in football very quickly. It was time to move on.

“I wasn’t involved in one of the games and the chief scout Russ was at one of our games for some strange reason.

“I saw him in the reception and got talking to him.

“He asked why I wasn’t playing and if I was injured. I said I wasn’t and it stemmed from there.

“He sat beside me during the game and one thing led to another.”

United, meanwhile, are continuing to speak to other targets as they bid to add to their three summer signings to date.