Aberdeen’s teenage sensation Calvin Ramsay has a long list of transfer options waiting for him in the summer.
But with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold one of his biggest influences, the youngster may be destined to progress his career on Merseyside.
Ramsay has been named the Scottish Football Writers’ Young Player of the Year and looks certain to follow Kieran Tierney, three times winner of that award, into the Premier League as he cited Alexander-Arnold as a major hero.
The 18-year-old, on the radar of a long list of Premier League clubs as well as Serie A’s Bologna, has an admirer in Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and could be set to swap one red strip for another as understudy to Alexander-Arnold, rated one of the world’s best right backs.
Ramsay’s meteoric rise comes after he was introduced to first team football at Aberdeen towards the end of last season and he has made 32 appearances this term.
Leicester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham are among those whose scouts have watched the youngster this season while Leeds United are preparing a bid for his signature.
The attacking full-back admitted he was buzzing to receive the young player award in his first full season.
He said: “There are some big players, great players, who have won the award and it’s just a massive achievement for me really.
“It’s been a good season really, not for the club obviously, we know we needed to do better.
“But on a personal note coming in for my first full season in professional football, I think I’ve done well.
“I’ve enjoyed and it to go and get this award has topped it off really.
“My dad Graham has helped me a lot as well as players like Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, all those top players.
“I like to watch videos of them and try and base my game on them. But when I was younger growing up, my dad definitely helped me a lot to get to where I am.
“He didn’t play at the top level but he knew ever since I was young I had a chance.
“He used to train with me all the time when I was younger, every day after school. It’s helped me massively.
“As a full-back, watching Trent and his crosses and his technical ability, if I can get to that level then it would be a bonus.”
Ramsay, who has the most assists of any teenage defender in world football, started out as a midfielder but was played at full-back against Chelsea in a youth tournament in Holland and has stayed in that role ever since.
He said: "In centre-mid you have to be technically good and Alexander-Arnold is technically good.
"He moved to right back and is good at going forward and good defensively.
"If I can be half the player of him I will be laughing.
“But I’m still an Aberdeen player. I’ve still got to focus on the four games left this season and keep putting in good performances.
“We’ll see where it takes me in the summer.
“It’s good being linked with big clubs but I’ve just tried to block it out really.
“You can’t get caught up in all of that. That’s the worst thing, especially as a young player.
“I’ve just broken into the first team this season, so I’m trying to block it out and keep playing my game.
“If you come into the first team and play well, like I have, anything can happen.
“The likes of Aaron Hickey came in at Hearts. He did well and got a big move to Serie A and he’s been brilliant, scoring goals and everything.
“Andy Robertson at Liverpool and Tierney at Arsenal, they’ve all been brilliant and they’re players I look up to, especially as they are full-backs like me.
“I’ve seen what they’ve done. I feel I could go on to do that as well.
“I know I’ve got to work hard and keep playing and keep putting in good performances. But if I keep playing well, then I’m sure it’ll happen.”
Ramsay was the subject of a £4.8m bid from Hickey’s Bologna in January when the Dons rejected the approach, seeing him as the subject of a bigger offer at the end of the season.
But the Aberdonian didn’t discount playing abroad. He said: "Every young player wants to go to the top and do the best they can do.
"If I keep playing well for Aberdeen until the end of the season we will see what happens.
"If the interest is still there then it will take care of itself.
"I'm still an Aberdeen player, still young and still learning the game. I still have a lot to learn defensively.
"I can always improve. I think any player can always improve. It's just staying at Aberdeen until the end of the season and seeing what happens then.”
