A year ago, Calvin Ramsay arrived for pre-season training expecting to be sat down in the office of Stephen Glass, then Aberdeen manager, to be sent out on loan.
We know this story because Ramsay recounted it after receiving his award for Scottish Football Writers’ Young Player of the Year.
“I have enjoyed every moment of my first full season – I didn’t expect to be in the team at the start of it,” he conceded. Yet it is a campaign that ends with the burgeoning Scottish full-back on the verge of completing a move to Liverpool – a story which no doubt sounds familiar.
On paper, Ramsay appears the mirror image of Andy Robertson, playing on the opposite flank and treading the path from the Scottish Premiership to Merseyside – albeit Robertson added a further steppingstone via Hull on the way.
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Naturally, though, it is Trent Alexander-Arnold to whom Ramsay draws the closest comparisons. After winning the writers’ prize earlier this year, he spoke of modelling himself on the England right-back, and not only because of the similarities in their playing style – closer to a wing-back than an out-and-out defender, with cross-field passes and searching balls into the box in abundance.
Ramsay was equally impressed by Alexander-Arnold’s versatility when shifting into midfield, admitting that if he could be “half the player of him I will be laughing”. It is telling that he has also studied footage of Kyle Walker.
Aberdeen are content to sell, partly because of the £4million on offer ahead of boss Jim Goodwin’s anticipated summer overhaul – and as he is prioritising experience, the Dons made it known they would sell Ramsay when the right offer arrived.
Goodwin said the speculation surrounding the 18-year-old is “expected” and it is not the first time the phone has been ringing. Bologna made two approaches in the winter transfer window as the Serie A outfit hoped to pair him with compatriot left-back Aaron Hickey; from Kieran Tierney to Nathan Patterson, the Scottish full-back factory shows no signs of stalling.
It is understood Ramsay was also being monitored by Leeds United. At that point, Goodwin suggests, his head may have been turned – for “prior to January,” he told Sky Sports, “Calvin was probably one of the best young full-backs in the world”.
That is why he has already made 39 appearances for Aberdeen, scoring one goal and assisting nine, which makes him a welcome addition to a squad that was stretched to the limit by contesting every possible match in all competitions last season.
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It had long been hoped that Neco Williams would grow into Alexander-Arnold’s deputy, but it is now increasingly likely that he will be sold once Ramsay has officially swapped Pittodrie for Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp is determined to start the summer on the front foot, with the window set to be dominated by talk of Sadio Mane’s expected departure. The shockwaves of the forward’s exit have already been dampened somewhat by the arrival of two prolific attackers in as many years: Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
Liverpool have so far completed the signings of 19-year-old forward Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and 16-year-old winger Ben Doak from Celtic. Ramsay, a Scotland U21 international, fits into that mould, a prospect rather than an immediate starter. Perhaps best of all, the Reds have also tied down their very own Dorian Gray of the Kop; James Milner has agreed a one-year extension despite interest from overseas.
It seemed there was very little room for manoeuvre for a side that fell one point short of the title and agonisingly shy of European glory; possibly the greatest mistake of all then, would be to stand still.
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