Aberdeen are setting a valuable precedent by pushing Liverpool to meet their valuation of teen star Calvin Ramsay.
The Dons want £5 million up-front with a further £5m in additional add-ons for the Scotland U21 international.
Liverpool had hoped a bid in the region of £4m plus £2m in future add-ons would be enough to take the right-back to Anfield.
Clubs across Europe are tracking Ramsay who recently landed the Scottish Football Writers’ Young Player of the Year Award.
Last season Ramsay also posted the most assists of any teenage defender in the top divisions in world football.
He is not just one of the hottest talents in Scotland but in Europe – and Aberdeen have rightly reached a valuation to match that status.
That the Dons are willing to stand up to one of the biggest clubs in the world to get that valuation sends out a powerful message.
It tells every club Aberdeen will not be steamrolled into parting with their top players on the cheap.
Not even to the recent Champions League finalists and English cup double winners.
For too long English clubs have signed Scottish talent for less than their value.
Aberdeen are standing firm to get what Ramsay is worth before the 18-year-old exits Pittodrie.
The Scottish Premiership is not a fire sale for clubs to land bargains.
Aberdeen are right not to be consumed by fear that Liverpool will walk away from any potential deal for Ramsay.
Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp views the Pittodrie teen as a talent that can ultimately provide competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
An extra £1m in the up front fee is a drop in the ocean for Liverpool to land a player Klopp rates highly.
The extra £3m in add-ons will come if Ramsay meets certain milestones with the six times European champions.
Aberdeen have consistently said they do not need to sell their top stars.
That puts them in a strong bargaining position with any club, including Liverpool.
As talks continue between the two clubs there will obviously be consideration from both parties for Ramsay.
🚀 Calvin Ramsay 👏🏽
⚽ A first ever Aberdeen goal for our @AberdeenFCYouth Academy graduate.#StandFree | @calvinramsay03 pic.twitter.com/NwkhzPBjpw
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) April 3, 2022
This is the chance of a lifetime for the teen who has previously admitted he models his game on Alexander-Arnold.
However Aberdeen cannot let that cloud their business judgement.
The first rule of negotiations is that you never accept the first offer.
That opening bid is a starting point for talks which move back and forth until all parties are satisfied.
Ultimately the deal for Ramsay to make the life changing move to Liverpool is expected to be completed this week.
The hope is that he excels at Liverpool.
If Ramsay is a major success at Liverpool it would ultimately land the Reds millions more in add-ons.
However it would also be a tremendous advert for Aberdeen’s youth academy.
It would also be a feel good story of a local kid reaching the top.
Hopefully the transfer of Ramsay will act as a domino effect in manager Jim Goodwin’s summer rebuild.
When that falls and the multi-million fee is secured new signings should start to tumble into Pittodrie.
They are needed as so far the summer rebuild consists solely of Albanian international midfielder Ylber Ramadani.
Aberdeen boss Goodwin recently said he hoped to have the majority of his squad rebuild completed by the start of pre-season training.
The squad return for pre-season training today and that has not happened.
Ramsay’s imminent switch to Liverpool could be the catalyst to set a spree of signings in motion.
Recharged Ramirez back at Pittodrie
Aberdeen striker Christian Ramirez has returned from the United States and will start pre-season training today.
The 31-year-old was given an extra week’s holiday at the end of last season.
United States international Ramirez missed the final two games of the campaign due to that extended holiday.
Manager Jim Goodwin sanctioned the early break because he felt the striker looked fatigued.
Ramirez had no summer break in 2021.
He effectively played 18 months without extended time off.
When the threat of being dragged into a relegation play-off battle was eradicated Goodwin allowed him to return home early.
The hope is that Ramirez will be refreshed and ready to hit the goal trail again in the new campaign.
Having netted 15 goals last season Ramirez failed to score since Jim Goodwin was appointed manager in mid February.
🎶 He is our no.9⃣…
🇺🇸 11 goals so far this season for Christian Ramirez.
🔴 More to come in 2022, @Chris_Ramirez17? pic.twitter.com/Mx4pJeEq5f
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) January 3, 2022
The goals may have dried up in the final months of the campaign but there is no denying Ramirez’s prowess in front of goal.
If he gets the right service into the box Ramirez will convert the chances.
Ramirez netted 15 goals from open play last season in a team that struggled to create chances – and he did it without a summer break.
Imagine how many he can score in a creative team after recharging his batteries.
How creative Aberdeen are in the new season remains to be seen as the expected summer rebuild is still in the early stages.
Andy Murray hope for Wimbledon
Hopefully Andy Murray will be fit for Wimbledon which starts on June 27.
The five time champion has withdrawn from Queen’s because of an abdominal strain.
Murray picked up the strain when losing the Stuttgart Open final to Matteo Berrettini at the weekend.
Following that final Murray climbed to 47th in the world rankings.
It is the Scot’s highest placing since coming back from career-threatening hip surgery in January 2019.
Seeing Murray at Wimbledon this summer would be fantastic.
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