TONY ASGHAR admits Abereen’s sale of Calvin Ramsay to Liverpool is the sort of business Dundee United would like to emulate.
The 18-year-old Dons defender moved to Anfield earlier this week on a £4.5 million deal.
United also have a promising crop of youngsters coming through the ranks with American owner Mark Ogren determined to recoup some of the millions he has ploughed into the club through sales.
However, Tannadice sporting director Asghar insists the “family silver” will only be sold when it suits the club, player and new boss Jack Ross.
He said: “To have a player come through, make Aberdeen a good team and then move on for good money - I think it’s a great piece of business.
“The owners and I have been clear that we want to develop young Scottish players and we feel we have a group of players that can do that.
“So absolutely we have the same model but we need to be aware that Dundee United need to be winning games first and foremost.
“That has to happen before we make those decisions on when players leave.”
Asghar added: “If you’re at the top level of the league that’s how you develop the asset value.
“You can then attract players who can help develop the young players. So there is a strategy to it. It’s not as easy as selling the family silver when the money is needed.
“You need to do it at the optimum time.
“We have young players, we will only sell them when we need to.
“We have a small squad at the moment as we go into the market for Jack.
“That’s great for Jack as he has an opportunity to build five or six new players into the group alongside those young players.”
