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Willie Miller: Aberdeen must push Liverpool on Calvin Ramsay price – but without letting the fish off the hook

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin and Calvin Ramsay
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin and Liverpool signing Calvin Ramsay.

Aberdeen are right to hold out for their valuation of Calvin Ramsay – but have to be careful not to lose any deal with Liverpool.

Premier League giants Liverpool have made a move for Ramsay, but the Dons are holding firm in their valuation of the teenage right-back.

The Dons are holding out for a deal which could potentially be worth up to £10 million.

That would be an initial £5m payment and a further £5m in add-ons if the teen reaches milestones with Anfield club.

Aberdeen hold all the cards because Ramsay is contracted to the club until summer 2024.

The Dons have every right to try to maximise the return.

However, at the same time they have to be careful not to lose the deal.

Euro giants Liverpool have launched a bid for Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay
Euro giants Liverpool have launched a bid for Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay.

There have been deals in the past, Scott McKenna for instance, where it was lost.

There will always be a ceiling for Scottish players with transfer fees and another ceiling with non-Rangers and Celtic players.

Aberdeen have to try to push that ceiling as high as they possibly can – but they don’t want the fish to come off the hook.

They don’t want the deal to fall flat by potentially over-pricing a player.

It is delicate.

I’m not party to these negotiations so I don’t know how they are progressing.

I don’t know whether Aberdeen feel by holding out they will eventually get the deal they want.

Ultimately everyone has to walk away from the deal feeling satisfied – the buying club, the selling club and Ramsay himself.

From a business point of view, Aberdeen have to maximise their return on Ramsay.

That money received for the teen needs to be reinvested in the first team and also youth development.

Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay in action on the football pitch in the 1-0 loss at St Mirren.
Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay in action in the 1-0 loss at St Mirren.

It is important when you get a gem like Ramsay coming through you make the most of it.

Particularly when he is so young, because Aberdeen have not had that much of a return in the first team for all the time, effort and expense in developing him.

There are many aspects that have to be taken into consideration, especially the player himself.

I don’t think Ramsay should be forgotten in this situation.

It is a dream opportunity for the youngster to go to such a huge club. Moving to Liverpool will change his life completely.

An opportunity like this does not come along often, so Ramsay and his family will be desperate to hear the outcome.

It is at the stage where it looks like the deal is almost there, but it will be tense for everyone involved – none more so than Ramsay.

I just hope the deal can be done to allow the young man to go and live his dream.

While I hope Ramsay’s dream move to Liverpool comes off this summer, I hope another talented teen, Connor Barron, stays at Pittodrie.

It is no surprise to see midfielder Barron linked with a number of teams.

Celtic were recently reported to have watched him in action in the 0-0 draw away to Belgium for the Scotland U21s.

Now Belgian clubs have been linked with Barron after shining in that U21 Euro qualifier.

Barron made an immediate impact on the Aberdeen midfield after breaking into the first team.

Aberdeen FC player Connor Barron applauding on the football pitch.
Aberdeen’s Connor Barron in action in a 1-0 loss to St Johnstone.

There can be no surprise when clubs look at your young players if they are regularly impressing for the first team.

The hope is that Aberdeen do not lose all their young talent before they make an impact at the Dons.

I would hope Barron stays for a little bit longer.

However, who knows? If a big offer comes in for 19-year-old Barron, then it becomes the same scenario as Ramsay.

With Barron, you hope he has a little more time at Aberdeen to develop his game.

Aberdeen's Connor Barron has a shot on goal during a football game against St Mirren
Aberdeen’s Connor Barron has a shot on goal against St Mirren.

If a club like Liverpool were to come in for him then it becomes difficult to turn anything like that down.

However, if it is not at that level then there is a development story to put to Barron.

To stay at the club for a while, develop further, and then bigger opportunities will come his way.

The emergence of Ramsay and Barron is great news for Aberdeen and the youth development.

It is something the club should be very proud of that they are producing these type of players.

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin hugging Connor Barron on the football pitch.
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin with Connor Barron.

Surprise at lack of Aberdeen signings

I am surprised there have not been many signings made by Aberdeen in what needs to be a summer rebuild.

However, there is still plenty of time to get them in place.

I would hope that movement and activity from Aberdeen in the transfer window will come soon.

You look around the country and other clubs, Hearts and Hibs in particular, are making strong moves in the transfer market.

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin is set for a summer squad rebuild.
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin is set for a summer squad rebuild.

Top clubs want to be making an impact in the transfer market to get supporters excited about the new season.

Aberdeen are set to return for pre-season training this week and Albanian international midfielder Ylber Ramadani is the only signing so far this summer.

Ramadani has penned a three-year contract from Hungarian club MTK Budapest and will arrive at Pittodrie with international experience.

Hopefully the Dons have most of their signings in for the start of the Premier Sports Cup games next month.

Competitive games start very early for Aberdeen with the Premier Sports Cup tie against Peterhead on July 10.

I wouldn’t want the League Cup to be treated any way other than with the complete respect it is due.

It would be very negative if any club were to use the group stages of the tournament as a form of pre-season.

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin at the side of the football pitch
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin will rebuild the squad this summer.

They are not pre-season games – it is an opportunity to lift silverware and should be treated with the respect it deserves.

So I would hope to see many more signings at the club in the next couple of weeks. Especially after manager Jim Goodwin said he was looking to strengthen in every position in the team.

Major questions for struggling Scots

Scotland face some searching questions which must be answered in today’s UEFA Nations League clash away to Armenia.

They must deliver a response after the 3-0 Nations League defeat to Republic of Ireland in Dublin at the weekend.

The clash in Armenia is an absolute must-win.

Scotland must take three points to go into the Autumn games against the Republic of Ireland and Ukraine with the chance of turning their group fortunes around.

It can still be turned around.

Scotland football fans look dejected after defeat in Dublin
Scotland fans look dejected after defeat in Dublin.

The recent performances against Republic of Ireland and the 3-1 loss to Ukraine throw doubts on a team you expect a higher level from.

Scotland are more than capable of beating Armenia today – but the performance will  have to be so much better to get three points.

I don’t think anyone expected so poor a performance from the Scots in Dublin. Everyone was shocked.

Listening to the players and manager after the game, they were all upfront and honest about the manner of the performance. The players were also clearly shocked at the defeat.

 

Ireland had been struggling under manager Stephen Kenny and had lost their two opening games against Armenia and Ukraine.

No-one was expecting Scotland to be trounced in Dublin and deliver such a poor showing in the process.

They barely had a shot at goal and leaked three, so there needs to be a massive improvement in Armenia.

 

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