Liverpool transfer target Calvin Ramsay was rested against Hibs as protection against injury, confirmed Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin.
It is understood Premier League giants Liverpool are on the verge of landing Ramsay in a club record £4 million deal.
That would be less than the £4.8m the Dons rejected from Italian Serie A side Bologna for the teen during the January transfer window.
However, it is believed Liverpool’s fee could eventually rocket up to £6m with achievable add-ons.
The 18-year-old, who is also being targeted by Leeds United, was left out of the squad for the 1-1 draw with Hibs at the weekend.
Goodwin confirmed Ramsay was rested as the Scotland Under-21 cap is suffering from an ankle ‘niggle’.
Ramsay, on the radar of teams across Europe, wanted to play at Easter Road – but Goodwin was unwilling to gamble with the right-back’s fitness.
The Reds boss was concerned facing Hibs could aggravate the problem and rule the teen out for six weeks during the summer.
Following that rest, Goodwin hopes Ramsay could face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday evening.
On why Ramsay was not in the squad, Goodwin said: “A simple explanation.
“Calvin is only a young man and has played a lot of football up to now this season.
“He has a slight little niggle in his calf and probably could have played and got through it.
“However, I didn’t see the point in putting the young fella at risk to be honest.
“He wanted to play, but I made the decision that it was probably sensible that we rest him up.
“If I had played him against Hibs and his calf had went, then he is looking at six weeks out during the summer. And no one wants that.
“He might be available for Wednesday after having the break this weekend.”
Club record fee would be smashed
Ramsay, contracted to the Dons until summer 2024, was recently named Scottish Football Writer’s Young Player of the Year.
The Dons’ teen is understood to be viewed by Liverpool as a potential long-term successor to England international Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool’s anticipated £4m move for Ramsay would smash Aberdeen’s club record fee received.
That currently stands at £3m for the sale of Scotland international Scott McKenna to Nottingham Forest in September 2020.
Aberdeen had previously rejected a bid from Aston Villa of almost £7m for McKenna in 2018.
The Dons could yet pocket more than £1m in add-ons this summer if McKenna helps Nottingham Forest earn promotion to the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest are set to play Sheffield United in the play-off semi-final first leg on Saturday.
McKenna, 25, has made 48 appearances for Forest this season.
Ramsay top of the world for assists
Meanwhile, Ramsay was presented with his DoubleTree By Hilton SFWA Young Scottish Player of the Year award at a ceremony in Glasgow on Sunday night.
The Dons full-back has racked up more assists this season than any other teenage defender across all the top divisions in world football.
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Aberdeen’s Calvin Ramsay discusses his DoubleTree By Hilton Scottish Football Writers' Association Young Scottish Player of the Year award 🏆 pic.twitter.com/iTe6c8Mh0j
— Scottish Football Writers Association (@scottishfwa) May 8, 2022
Bologna made two failed attempts, both Aberdeen club records, to sign the teen in the January transfer window.
An initial bid of £3.3m was knocked back.
The Italian club came in with a further approach and proposed to take Ramsay on loan for £800,000 until the end of the season.
They wanted an option to make the deal permanent this summer for £4.8m. That proposal was rejected by the Dons.
Italian Serie A club Sassuolo sent a scout to watch Ramsay in action in March.
Manchester United, Tottenham, Leicester City and Southampton have all sent scouts to Pittodrie to watch Ramsay.
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⚽ Calvin Ramsay scored his first Aberdeen goal in our last match with Dundee. #StandFree | @calvinramsay03 pic.twitter.com/NQrxKrxHik
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) April 29, 2022
Manchester United and Leicester City are understood to have given serious consideration to late January bids.
Ramsay only made his first team debut in March last year when introduced as a substitute in a 1-0 Premiership loss to Dundee United.
He made his first start on April 3 in a 1-0 Scottish Cup win away at lower league Dumbarton.
The need to protect teen star Ramsay
This season Ramsay has racked up 33 appearances, with nine assists and one goal.
Pittodrie boss Goodwin insists it is vital he and the club protect Ramsay.
Goodwin said: “It is very hard for these teenagers when they come into the first team and play Premier League.
“It is very intense week in week out.
“Calvin has had a great season and won the Young Player of the Year award.
“That is great recognition for what he has done this season.
“But we need to protect him as well at times.”
