Liverpool signing target Calvin Ramsay has the quality to make a first-team impact at Anfield, insists former Aberdeen striker Walker McCall.
Premier League giants Liverpool have moved for the Dons’ 18-year-old right-back.
Talks are ongoing between the two clubs.
Aberdeen are holding out for a deal which could potentially be worth up to £10 million.
That would include an initial payment of £5m, and there would then be up to £5m in additional add-ons if Ramsay reaches certain milestones with the six-time European champions.
Liverpool’s proposal of £4m now with a potential £2m more in add-ons falls short of Aberdeen’s expectations.
Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp views Ramsay as an understudy to English international right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Former Dons attacker McCall is a regular at Pittodrie and has watched the teenager’s rapid ascent.
He believes Ramsay can ultimately push Alexander-Alexander for a first-team slot.
McCall, 68, said: “Ramsay definitely has the quality to make an impact at Liverpool.
“He has so much quality on the ball with his delivery and range of passing.
“The aspect Ramsay lacks in a little is his defensive techniques, but he is only young and will learn that. Especially if he goes to Liverpool where there are probably one-to-one coaches who can help him develop with that.
“It is all about Ramsay learning and progressing.
“If everything goes through then he is going to Liverpool as cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“However, Ramsay has the ability to push Alexander-Arnold.”
An understudy to Alexander-Arnold
Aberdeen are holding firm on their valuation of the teenage right-back.
If, as expected, a deal is done, it will smash the Dons’ club record fee of £3m received for the 2020 transfer of Scott McKenna to Nottingham Forest.
Aberdeen received a further £1m in add-ons recently following McKenna’s promotion with Forest to the English top-flight.
Ramsay is also set to become the most expensive teenager in Scottish football history.
The record stands at £3m paid to Dundee United by Sporting Lisbon for Ryan Gauld in 2014.
Ramsay registered the most assists by any teenage right-back in the world’s top divisions last season.
That form saw the teen named Scottish Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year.
Contracted to the Dons until summer 2024, Ramsay is on the radar of clubs across Europe.
Italian Serie A club Bologna and Leeds United were both weighing up a summer swoop for the Scotland U21 international.
With other clubs circling, Anfield boss Klopp has sanctioned the move for Ramsay as he wants a young understudy, and cover, for Alexander-Arnold.
That is a pressing issue as Liverpool right-back Neco Williams is expected to complete a £15m move to Fulham.
Welsh international Williams spent a successful loan period on loan at Championship winners Fulham last season.
If, as expected, Williams exits Anfield, it would leave only central defender Joe Gomez and veteran midfielder James Milner as cover for Alexander-Arnold.
‘Dream move’ too good to turn down
McCall believes a deal must be thrashed out to let Ramsay make the dream move to Liverpool.
McCall, who had two spells at Aberdeen in the seventies and eighties, said: “Liverpool is too good an opportunity to turn down for the club and Ramsay.
“You cannot stand in a young player’s way and say: ‘you are staying here’.
“You cannot stand in the way of a dream move like that.
“Klopp clearly sees something in Ramsay.
“Neco Williams is set to be sold which must be a good thing for Ramsay.
“Having a fellow Scot at Anfield in Andy Robertson will also be good for Ramsay.
“I think Robertson would take Ramsay under his wing and make sure everything is right for him.
“It would be great for Aberdeen if one of their youth graduates goes on to play for one of the bigger clubs in world football.”
Bologna still interested in Ramsay
A host of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Tottenham, Leeds United and Southampton have scouted Ramsay.
However, the teen has expressed a preference to work with Klopp at Anfield.
Ramsay recently said he models his game on Alexander-Arnold.
Italian club Bologna also remain keen on Ramsay.
The Serie A outfit had a bid of £4.8m rejected by Aberdeen during the January transfer window.
That bid from Bologna was for a loan spell followed by the right to buy at the end of the season and was knocked back.
Liverpool add-ons would be key
Liverpool’s recent focus has been on completing a deal for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.
A £64m deal, rising to £85m with add-ons, has been agreed for the Uruguay international.
Now Liverpool’s attention will switch to completing a move for Ramsay.
McCall said: “If Ramsay moves to Liverpool there will be add-ons for years to come as they are always challenging for honours.
“Just look at what happened with Scott McKenna’s move to Nottingham Forest.
“The club benefited by an extra £1m when he earned promotion to the Premier League recently.
“Ramsay moving to Liverpool would also give all the young players at Aberdeen a boost.
“It proves if you are good enough you will get a chance in the team and beyond.
“Connor Barron broke into the first team in the second half of the season and Celtic are reportedly watching him.
“Clubs in Belgium are also watching Barron after he impressed in a recent Scotland U21s against Belgium.
“Everyone will benefit if Aberdeen get these young players progressing through to the first team.
“It is the only way Aberdeen can move forward.”
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