Highly rated centre-back Jack Milne is the latest Aberdeen teen star boss Jim Goodwin aims to secure on an extended contract.
Aberdeen are currently locked in talks with midfielder Connor Barron, 19, in a bid to secure the Scotland U21 cap on a long term deal.
Now boss Goodwin has confirmed he aims to tie up centre-back Milne’s long term future to the Dons.
Goodwin is ‘very excited about’ 19-year-old rising star Milne.
And he confirmed the teen could be handed a competitive first team debut in the upcoming Premier Sports Cup group games.
Milne impressed with the Dons during the week long warm weather training camp in Alicante, Spain.
He is in contention to feature in the pre-season friendly away to Highland League Brechin City on Wednesday.
Goodwin insists Milne has all the attributes of a ‘modern centre-back’ in terms of pace, height, physicality and skill.
The Dons boss now aims to open up a path to get the Youth Academy graduate into the first team.
He said: “Jack is one that we would like to extend.
“He is a player that I really, really like.
“Jack still has a lot to learn in terms of that position but he is one I’m very excited about.
“He has all the attributes you would want from a modern day centre-back in terms of height and physical profile.
“He is six foot three, maybe six foot four.
“Jack also has pace and is comfortable on the ball.
“He has a lot of experienced players ahead of him at the moment.
“We now just have to find a way to open the pathway up to get him into the team.”
Keen to extend Ryan Duncan’s deal
Goodwin is also keen to extend the contract of teenage midfielder Ryan Duncan.
The 18-year-old spent a successful season on loan with League One Peterhead last season.
Duncan was also in Spain at the Dons’ training camp.
The midfielder has already made his first team debut having featured as a substitute in a 4-0 loss to Rangers at Ibrox in November, 2020.
Milne has experienced centre-backs ahead of him at Pittodrie, at the moment.
Boss Goodwin signed two centre-backs during an extensive and ongoing summer transfer window squad rebuild.
Anthony Stewart arrived on a two year contract following the expiration of his deal with Wycombe Wanderers.
Left-sided centre-back Liam Scales was also secured on a season long loan from Premiership champions Celtic.
Goodwin will bid to secure Scales on a permanent contract during the January window if, as he expects, the defender impresses.
Two Scotland international centre-backs also exited as part of Goodwin’s rebuild.
Long serving Andy Considine left after 18 seasons in the Dons first team.
A new contract was taken off the table after talks broke down.
Considine penned a two year contract with Premiership rivals St Johnstone.
Declan Gallagher had the final year of his Aberdeen contract terminated last month and subsequently signed with St Mirren.
Switch from midfield to centre-back
Highly rated teen Milne initially joined the Dons at 11-years old and attended the SFA Performance School at Hazlehead Academy.
He joined Aberdeen as a full-time professional in summer 2020 – as a midfielder.
Aberdonian Milne played for a season with the U18’s before being loaned out to Brechin City for the first half of the 2021/22 campaign.
Jack Milne earns his first call up to the first team squad! https://t.co/TRfsNhmLVe
— Aberdeen FC Youth Academy (@AberdeenFCYouth) January 25, 2022
Originally a central midfielder, then a holding midfielder, Milne was converted into a centre-back and has gone from strength to strength.
Goodwin said: “The Academy guys deserve a lot of credit because they turned him from a central midfielder into a centre-half.
“Jack got a 45 minute run out against Buckie Thistle (2-1 friendly win).
“We might get him some more game time in the friendlies to come and also in the League Cup.”
Talks ongoing with Connor Barron
Goodwin is keen to tie down the club’s hottest young prospects on longer deals.
Talks are ongoing with with 19-year-old midfielder Barron who has become a regular first team starter under Goodwin.
Barron’s current Dons deal expires in summer 2024 and Goodwin recently said he expects contract talks to progress smoothly.
Aberdeen recently sold teen right-back Calvin Ramsay to Premier League giants Liverpool for a club record transfer fee.
Right-back Ramsay, 18, signed a five year contract with the Anfield club.
Aberdeen secured an initial £4.5 million payment.
There is also the possibility of a further £3.5m in performance related add-ons should the teen reach certain performance related milestones.
In January 2021 the Dons tied Ramsay to a new contract until summer 2024, thus substantially ramping up his value.
Importance of developing youth
Goodwin reckons the development and big money transfer of Ramsay is an example to many other clubs.
He said: “For football clubs to be sustainable now they have to be able to bring that level of quality through the Academy system.
“Otherwise it makes the whole investment pointless.
“In fairness to the board of the directors and the chairman (Dave Cormack) they have built a great facility at Cormack Park.
“And Calvin Ramsay has pretty much paid for it off the back of that move a couple of weeks ago which is fantastic.
“It is a great example to all the other clubs out there of how to do things.
“We have great Academy coaches who are working tirelessly behind the scenes as you would expect.”
Clear route for youth to the first team
Manager Goodwin is determined to have a clear route into the first team for exciting young Youth Academy talent.
Left-back Jack MacKenzie has also emerged from the club’s Youth Academy system to become a first team regular.
Goodwin said: “As manager I need to make sure that road to the first team is there for them.
“When they see guys like Calvin Ramsay, Jack MacKenzie and Connor Barron making that step from the Academy it gives them a real lift.
“It also gives the parents a bit of optimism.
“That they can see a potential opportunity there for their kids to go and play for Aberdeen’s first team.”
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