Ryan Lowe was delighted to get Preston North End’s first signing of the summer over the line, as Calvin Ramsay agreed to join on loan from Liverpool.
The signing of the 19-year-old right-back was completed on Tuesday, and the Scottish international will join on the 15th July. It’s an area North End have needed to strengthen for a couple of years at least now, and it is hoped Ramsay can provide the team with a much needed attacking outlet down that side.
Whilst Brad Potts may have to make way for the former Aberdeen player, Lowe is happy to have some competition in that area now. He also hinted that it may not just be in the wing-back position that Ramsay will play.
Speaking to the Preston North End website, Lowe commented on the loan deal, “He fills a position we’ve been looking to fill for a while as it gives us good competition down that right-hand side where Brad Potts has obviously been fantastic.”
“It gives us options now too. We’ve got a right-back in the building, as well as someone who can play right-wing-back. He’s energetic, he’s dynamic, and he can get himself up and down the pitch.”
Finally having a right-back in the squad, could allow Lowe to play with a back four next season. His preferred formation doesn’t always pay off but at least now, with the addition of Ramsey, the North End manager has the opportunity to be more flexible. However with a flat back four, you would generally rely on pace on the flanks further up the pitch. Lowe would need to recruit in these areas to be even more fluid with his formations.
Lowe is a Liverpool fan, and was on their books as a young teenager, where he befriended Steven Gerrard. He obviously still follows the club closely which will have helped put Ramsay on his radar. There may well be a few other young players on the fringes of the Liverpool squad that Lowe has his eye on for this summer or the future.
Ramsay will follow in the footsteps of another Liverpool defender in Sepp van den Berg who enjoyed a fruitful 18 months on loan at Deepdale. The Dutchman became a fan favourite with the club, before spending last season in the Bundesliga with Schalke 04.