Phil McGuire reckons Liverpool’s transfer for Calvin Ramsay might see Aberdeen bag a high deal for one in all Scotland’s brightest younger abilities.
He ought to know after being on this film himself, just for a late deal to take him to Celtic to break down.
Liverpool have now come to the desk to make a bid for the 18-year-old defender.
The Premier League giants have gone in across the £3.5million mark however will go as much as £4m up entrance and are prepared to supply extras, which may very well be value thousands and thousands extra, linked to Scotland caps and success at Anfield.
The deal is prone to undergo, eclipsing Scott McKenna’s 2020 transfer to Nottingham Forest for a club-record price.
And McGuire additionally is aware of it could be life altering for the teenager, working beneath Jurgen Klopp and his galaxy of stars.
The previous defender mentioned: “Calvin’s finished exceptionally properly and you may see why Liverpool need him.
“He has been in membership for his growth and to maintain him grounded, which is evident to see.
“I liken his scenario to large Scott. He has simply gained the play-offs and is now trying in direction of the Premier League.
“These alternatives will come for Calvin. All of it comes all the way down to the timing for the participant and Aberdeen as properly.
“You'll be able to see he's destined for large issues and he has to make the correct selections. There isn't a doubt Liverpool can be an awesome alternative for him.”
Ramsay noticed a transfer to Serie A aspect Bologna fall by way of in January and McGuire is delighted he's now prone to get his rewards.
He too was a rising expertise beneath Ebbe Skovdahl and will have been lining up for Celtic within the season they reached Seville had the final day of the summer time switch window gone in a different way.
He mentioned: “Martin O’Neill was the supervisor in 2002, I used to be 22 then. You are attempting to get offers finished in hours.
“When it doesn’t recover from the road, it's disappointing.
“However after that I signed a brand new contract at Aberdeen. You must make your selections and get on with it. Even when a deal isn’t agreed, Calvin’s nonetheless on a long-term contract so is protected. Liverpool and different alternatives will likely be there.
“And the great factor is Aberdeen may even be protected and rewarded for the work and growth they've put into Calvin.”
McGuire emerged across the identical time as Darren and Derek Younger plus Kevin McNaughton. Ramsay and Connor Barron now lead these flourishing amid a give attention to academy expertise. He left in 2005 for a 12 months at Doncaster and mentioned: “Funds have modified dramatically.
“Even after I got here again up from down south, there weren’t the identical funds.
“I’d say soccer is healthier structured now on the lower-age teams as a result of there are such a lot of alternatives.
“We performed for our boys’ golf equipment, went into Below-18s with golf equipment, reserves after which tried to get into the primary staff.
“You'll be able to see the profit coming by way of with a number of the Aberdeen gamers who’ve come by way of. The teaching and pathway is now so much higher however what the brand new
boys now lack is that taking part in along with your buddies and being that bit extra streetwise.
“You see extra coming by way of however much more falling by way of the gaps.”