JIM GOODWIN has backed Calvin Ramsay to go from 'strength to strength' at Liverpool as he closes in on a multi-million pound move to Anfield.
The Reds agreed a deal for the Scotland Under-21 defender on Thursday and Ramsay will now undergo a medical on Merseyside before putting pen-to-paper on a long-term contract.
Ramsay has risen to prominence at Pittodrie over recent seasons and was the subject of interest from England and abroad before Liverpool emerged as favourites for his signature.
He will now follow in the footsteps of Andy Robertson as he seeks to make his mark under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp and establish himself in a side that will challenge for Premier League and Champions League honours in the coming years.
The fee - potentially worth up to £6.5million - for Ramsay represents a new record for Aberdeen and Goodwin, who was appointed as manager in February, has no doubt the right-back will go on to forge a successful career for himself after a solid grounding at Pittodrie.
Goodwin said: “I think the academy here at Aberdeen deserves a huge amount of credit for developing Calvin.
“He is not one I can take a huge amount of credit for as he was in the team prior to me coming in.
“Liverpool are very lucky if the deal does go through because they are getting a very exciting talent who won the Young Player of the Year award.
“We had high hopes for him and there is no doubt he will go from strength to strength at Liverpool.
“When you look at the way Liverpool play - very attacking minded and offensive full-backs.
“They have another Scottish player there in Andy Robertson going up the left flank.
“With Trent Alexander Arnold on the other side they have two very offensive full-backs.
“That is what Calvin will bring as well. His stats in the first half of the season were right up there with the top full-backs in the world.
“Hence why he came on the radar of Liverpool and other big clubs as well.
“Liverpool will be getting a very good player. At 18-years -old he is not the finished article. There is room for improvement.
“But, he is a good character and a very good kid. If the deal gest done he will leave with the best wishes of everybody."
The deal for Ramsay will be the biggest one of the summer that Aberdeen complete but Goodwin's business is far from finished as he seeks to overhaul his Dons squad ahead of the new campaign.
Albanian midfielder Ylber Ramadani became the first arrival of the window when he clinched a move from MTK Budapest last week.
The Dons will begin their Premiership term with a trip to face champions Celtic on Sunday, July 31 and Goodwin is eager to ramp up the rebuilding job as seeks to improve on a wretched tenth place finish last time out.
Goodwin: "It is always difficult to come into a club in February when there is no transfer window to look forward to. You have to work with the players available to you.
“When I came in there was a squad list of about 30 players and 12 of those have since been released and there will probably be another two or three leaving before the window closes.
"I knew the job I was coming into. We under-achieved greatly last season but I see the big turnover as a positive thing.
“Some people don't like having a big turnover of players but I think we can bring in some fresh faces and revitalise the whole squad.
“The players who remain know exactly what is respect and know the demands that will be put on them.
“We are in talks with a good number of players who will come in and strengthen the squad.
“We are working hard on fitness levels to make sure come the first game we are firing on all cylinders.”
