Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin is hopeful the Scottish Premiership side will be able to fend off interest from Leeds United and a number of other Premier League clubs to keep teenage talent Lewis Pirie at the club. The Dons striker is reportedly a target for the Whites, Fulham, Everton and Brighton after an impressive number of displays in their youth set-up.
The 15-year-old's stock rose even higher after netting for Scotland U16s in a 3-2 Victory Shield defeat to Wales earlier this week. Chiefs at Aberdeen are desperate for the young talent to sign a professional contract with the club when he turns 16 next month.
Speaking to the Press and Journal, Goodwin said: “Young Lewis is a player that I really like. I had a conversation with him recently as we were short of numbers on the Friday and brought him over to train with the first team.
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“He is still only 15 and not 16 until January. He is a young, exciting prospect and I just hope he can see his long-term future here at Aberdeen.
“Young players know they will get opportunities with me; that age doesn’t bother me. When Lewis turns 16 in the New Year and becomes eligible to play, he 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.”
Pittodrie has a growing reputation for producing some of Scotland's best young talents, with the likes of Calvin Ramsay signing for Liverpool. The Dons are hopeful they'll be able to keep their upcoming talents at the club, rather than lose them to Premier League clubs.
Goodwin said: “I try to explain to parents that their kids are 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.
“There are some big attractions down there. However, I think for us as a club we have done things properly in the last few years.
“The kids that are here are training with the first team day in, day out and getting opportunities. Players like Ryan Duncan, who scored an incredible goal against Partick in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
“We have a great academy here at Aberdeen. It doesn’t surprise me that big clubs from England and all around Europe are starting to sit up and take notice.
“Calvin Ramsay was obviously sold to Liverpool for multi-millions. A lot of our other young players are catching the eye as well.”
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