Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski has the potential to become Aberdeen’s first eight-figure transfer sale – if he stays beyond the January transfer window.
French top-flight club Stade de Reims are reportedly lining up a £4 million bid for Miovski in the upcoming winter window.
However, Aberdeen must resist the temptation to sell Miovski at the turn of the year as £4m is way below his potential worth.
A player who cost the Dons £535,000 from MTK Budapest this summer could potentially go on to be worth £10 million if he maintains his scoring form.
That initially may seem like an outlandish claim.
However, it’s not when you take into consideration Miovski’s previous valuation and rapid upwards trajectory at Aberdeen.
Miovski was valued at €2m (£1.28m to £1.71m) in January by MTK Budapest when Czech Republic club Slavia Prague enquired about signing him.
That was when Miovski had scored seven goals and had 18 months remaining on his MTK Budapest contract – when he was playing in a struggling MTK team that were eventually relegated and not a regular starter for his country.
Now Miovski has netted 12 times in 18 games for a team sitting third in the Scottish Premiership.
Miovski capable of finishing season as Premiership’s top marksman
He has a massive contract with the Dons until summer 2026 and is now North Macedonia’s recognised starting striker.
Miovski is set to lead the line in Thursday’s friendly against Finland.
His value ramps up with each factor: his form, length of Aberdeen deal, international status and the high-profile league he is playing in.
That transfer value will continue to rise way beyond the January transfer window if his goalscoring form continues.
North Macedonia have also drawn Italy and England in their Euro 2024 qualifying group.
If he scores against England at Wembley in June, his value and status will rocket again.
Miovski is currently joint-goalscorer in the Premiership with Rangers’ Antonio Colak.
An intelligent player with a lethal eye for goal, the Dons’ star looks increasingly capable of finishing the season as the Premiership’s top marksman.
It is inevitable Stade de Reims will be the first of many clubs chasing the North Macedonian international.
He is fundamental to Aberdeen’s bid for success
Aberdeen beat off interest from clubs in Hungary, Russia, Poland, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland to sign Miovski from MTK Budapest this summer.
He was already on the radar of clubs in multiple nations, with a less impressive scoring form at a side who were eventually relegated.
Expect many more clubs to be alerted to the 23-year-old going forward.
Miovski must not exit Pittodrie in January as he is fundamental to the bid to take Aberdeen to the next level and gain success.
There may be a blueprint within Pittodrie of sourcing talented players, developing and selling them at a substantial profit.
However, there must also be sustained and tangible return from that player on the pitch before that transfer trigger is pulled. and six months is not nearly long enough.
Selling in January would give the wrong message Aberdeen are a selling club and not one driven towards delivering silverware.
Aberdeen can raise Miovski higher
At 23-year-old Miovski is nowhere near his prime.
He is a class act, but is still developing.
Aberdeen can bring him to far higher levels and reap the rewards on the pitch with success for the club, then eventually cash in with a huge transfer fee a few windows down the line.
Aberdeen were able to sign Miovski for £535,000 due to a perfect storm of misfortune for two other teams.
In March this year, he set up the winner in the 1-0 World Cup play-off semi-final win over Euro 2020 champions Italy.
North Macedonia would eventually lose to Portugal 2-0 in their play-off final.
If Miovski was set to play in the World Cup this summer, after seeing off Italy and Portugal, it is unlikely he would have been within the Dons’ budget.
MTK Budapest were then relegated.
That prompted a fire-sale of their overseas talent due to a clause where lower league teams cannot have foreign players.
Aberdeen capitalised.
That outlay already looks like the bargain of the season in the Premiership as his value continues to rise.
Third place and a semi-final slot
Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin can go into the five-week Premiership winter break reflecting on a job well done.
Goodwin oversaw a massive reconstruction of an underperforming squad during the summer transfer window.
He signed 11 new players which was a massive leap of faith in both his own ability and that of his recruitment team.
It was a leap of faith which was required, though, as major changes to the squad were needed.
So far, so good.
Aberdeen are sitting third in the Scottish Premiership table and will face Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final in January.
The Reds have been superb at Pittodrie in delivering goals, excitement and crucially wins.
However, it has not been all plain-sailing as there have been lows to accompany the highs, such as the 4-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice.
Dons away form is an ongoing concern
It was fitting that in the last game before the break the Dons gained payback for that shocker by beating Dundee United 1-0.
Aberdeen’s away form is an ongoing concern.
But boss Jim Goodwin insists he will use the winter break to try to find a way to improve that form on the road.
The Dons are very much a work in progress, but their momentum is upwards.
Right call to release internationals
Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin made the right call to let the international players miss the week-long training camp in Atlanta.
Goodwin let Liam Scales, Connor Barron, Bojan Miovski, Ylber Ramadani, Ryan Duncan and Evan Towler all go away with their countries.
He decided the pride of representing their country was more important to the players than a training camp and friendly against Atlanta United.
It is in contrast to Celtic, who decided not to release players for Scotland’s friendly against Turkey on Wednesday.
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