Aberdeen legend Jocky Scott believes Aberdeen could land an even bigger future windfall if they hold on to Calvin Ramsay this summer.
Premier League giants Liverpool are currently in talks with the Dons as they bid to sign the 18-year-old.
Aberdeen have insisted they do not have to sell their top stars and are ready to hold out until Ramsay’s valuation is met.
It is expected a deal will be completed with the Anfield club for the transfer of the Scotland U21 international.
Any fee would smash the Dons’ club record of £3m received in 2020 for the transfer of Scott McKenna to Nottingham Forest.
However former Dons striker Scott believes the teen could be worth much more to the Dons with a few seasons at Pittodrie under his belt.
Scott said: “Why are Aberdeen selling very good young players?
“Ramsay is a very good player with great potential, that’s why Liverpool are interested.
“Granted Aberdeen might get a lot of money for Ramsay at the moment.
“But in a couple of years time if Ramsay continues to do what has got everyone talking about him, could Aberdeen not get a lot more money?
“Aberdeen need to keep their best players because the standard was not good enough last summer.”
Klopp sanctions move for Ramsay
Italian Serie A club Bologna are also keen on signing Ramsay as are Leeds United.
With other clubs targeting Ramsay Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sanctioned a move for the SFWA Young Player of the Year.
Klopp views Ramsay as an understudy to English international right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Ramsay recently admitted he models his game on Alexander-Arnold.
The teen also recently said he believes he could follow in the footsteps of Scottish full-backs Andy Robertson (Liverpool) and Kieran Tierney (Arsenal) in becoming a hit in the English top flight.
The Dons right-back finished the season with the most assists of any teenage defender in the world.
No other teenager set up as many goals in the top leagues across the globe than the Pittodrie Youth Academy graduate.
Scott held on to stars Jess and Booth
Scott, 74, co-managed Aberdeen with Alex Smith from August 1988 to September 1991.
That managerial duo led the Dons to the League Cup and Scottish Cup double in the 1989-90 season.
During that period Aberdeen had two emerging exciting young talents in Eoin Jess and Scott Booth.
Both made their breakthroughs under Scott and Smith and would both progress to become Scotland internationals.
Jess eventually moved for a then club record fee of £2m to Coventry City, then in the English top flight.
Booth would eventually transfer to German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund under the Bosman ruling.
Scott and Smith resisted the urge to sell the duo as they were too important to the Dons’ bid for silverware.
They both racked up more than 100 starts before moving on.
Scott said: “When Alex and I were in charge we had players like Eoin Jess and Scott Booth.
“There was no way we were looking to sell them.
“We were looking to make them better players.
“They both had a few years of being a regular player in the first team and proved they can play at a high level.
“Then the player looks at moving away to bigger things.”
🚀 Calvin Ramsay 👏🏽
⚽ A first ever Aberdeen goal for our @AberdeenFCYouth Academy graduate.#StandFree | @calvinramsay03 pic.twitter.com/NwkhzPBjpw
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) April 3, 2022
Summer transfer window targets
Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin is set for a summer rebuild of an underperforming squad that finished 10th in the Premiership.
Albanian international Ylber Ramadani is the first capture of the summer transfer window.
Midfielder Ramadani has penned a three year deal in a £1000,00 transfer from Hungarian club MTK Budapest.
Ramadani is currently on international action with the Albanian squad.
He featured as a substitute in the 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw with Iceland on Monday to earn a 15th cap.
Aberdeen boss Goodwin also aims to secure Celtic left-sided defender Liam Scales.
The 23-year-old made just 13 appearances for the Hoops last season following a summer 2021 move from Shamrock Rovers.
Aberdeen’s preference is for a permanent deal although they are also open to the possibility of a loan to buy deal.
Wigan Athletic’s Republic of Ireland international midfielder Jamie McGrath and Ipswich Town keeper Vaclav Hladky are also loan targets.
Wolves midfielder Connor Ronan is also on Goodwin’s radar.
However Hearts look to be favourites to land Ronan.
Aberdeen have also been linked with a move for former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Jacob Davenport.
The 23 year-old is a free agent after he was was not offered a new deal by English Championship side.
Aberdeen also enquired about St Mirren defender Charles Dunne.
However the Paisley side slapped a £350,000 price tag on the stopper.
A busy summer window for Goodwin
The Reds recruitment team are also scouring Europe and have active overseas summer signing targets.
Scott said: “Jim Goodwin will have to do a bit of work over the summer by bringing in better players than he has.
“Unfortunately Aberdeen fished in the bottom half of the league which is very unusual for them.
“From afar it looks like Aberdeen need better players.
“It is all down to what the players do on the pitch and obviously they didn’t do well enough last season.
“It is disappointing the way Aberdeen faltered last season.”
