Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin believes highly-rated teenager Lewis Pirie would benefit from staying at Pittodrie amid interest from Premier League trio Leeds United, Fulham and Everton, speaking to the Press and Journal.
Goodwin needs only to point towards one Calvin Ramsay when aiming to espouse the benefits of staying put and staying patient.
Ramsey, after all, rose through the ranks at Aberdeen, making 39 appearances in all competitions before earning himself a £4 million move to Liverpool at the age of 18. And Pirie, Goodwin says, would be well served taking a leaf out of the right-back’s book.
“Young Lewis is a player that I really like. He is a young, exciting prospect. And I just hope he can see his long-term future here at Aberdeen,” says Goodwin, who induced Pirie in first-team training last week.
“Young players know they will get opportunities with me. Age doesn’t bother me. (Pirie) will get his opportunity here at Aberdeen.
“Fingers-crossed Lewis, along with all the other good young ones who are attracting attention, can see the bigger picture; That Aberdeen will give them the best opportunity of having a fantastic career.”
Leeds United, Fulham and Everton like Aberdeen’s Lewis Pirie
Everton reportedly watched Pirie score four times as Aberdeen thrashed Dundee United at youth level recently. Fulham, Brighton and Sheffield United are also keeping tabs. As are a Leeds side making a concerted effort to lure Europe’s best young talent to West Yorkshire; from Sam Greenwood to Lewis Bate, Joe Gelhardt to Willy Gnonto.
“I try to explain to parents that their kids (can get) a lot closer to the English Premier League by staying here and playing in Aberdeen’s first team, as opposed to going down into the academy system in England and getting lost,” Goodwin adds.
“I think, for us as a club, we have done things properly in the last few years. The kids are training with the first team day in, day out and getting opportunities.”
Ramsay made his Liverpool debut on Tuesday night. The Scot came off the bench during the 2-0 Champions League victory over Napoli at Anfield.
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