ABERDEEN implored Ryan Fraser to knock back a £400,000 transfer to League One outfit Bournemouth back in January 2013 on the grounds that it would cost him the chance of a dream move to one of the elite clubs in England. But Fraser stuck to his guns – and if the news reports from south of the border yesterday are to be believed – the big guns are about to come calling anyway.

Well-placed sources down south yesterday suggested that Arsenal had joined their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the hunt for the signature of an emerging player who has 11 goals and seven assists from his 36 appearances this season and handily happens to have just 12 months remaining on his current deal at the South Coast club.

Should Unai Emery choose to make him a replacement for the soon-to-depart Aaron Ramsey, this would be a triumph for a player putting trust in his own abilities, but his first club may too have cause to celebrate. With the Dons thought to have negotiated a 20% sell-on fee, and the value of any transfer likely to be anything between £15m and £20m, that could mean £3m to £4m for Derek McInnes’ transfer kitty this summer.

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Willie Miller, the Dons legend and BBC pundit, was a club director tasked with overseeing the club’s academy during Fraser’s formative years – recalling a little buzz bomb who played all over the place and frequently had to fight just to be retained for a further 12 months.

Recalling a local lad so keen just to be a first-team professional that he didn’t even check the terms of his first professional contract, Miller is delighted to see his former pupil approaching an elevation to the elite of our sport and feels he has the perfect mentality to make the most of it.

“It already has been quite a journey for Ryan,” said Miller. “Because it wasn’t an easy path. The development process can be a bit unpredictable to be honest. Ryan always had the skill, he was also always a very small player which shouldn’t stand in your way but sometimes it does when it comes to taking them through to the next year. His attitude always got him through, though: he was always a keen listener who wanted to learn and was prepared to play in a number of positions.

“He could play as a full back, a wing back, but predominantly on the wide areas, right and left. Sometimes you get kids who think they are only a midfield player or they can only play one position but we encourage them to be open minded about it and Ryan certainly was.

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“When I took him in to sign his first pro contract at 16 I took him and a few others up to one of the hospitality boxes overlooking Pittodrie. Ryan was there with his parents and I handed them the contract. I told him to take it home, have a look at it and discuss it with your parents but he refused to do any of that, he just wanted to sign it there and then, he was that desperate to be a professional footballer. I said: ‘you haven’t even looked at what we are paying you, or how long you are signing for’. He said ‘I don’t care, I just want to sign’.”

While Miller played no part in Fraser’s departure for Bournemouth, he certainly remembers the rumpus it caused. Within months, the winger – taken under his wing by Eddie Howe - had helped the Cherries into the Championship. Next it was the Premiership – and after again proving his worth in a loan spell under Mick McCarthy at Ipswich Town – finally the FA Premier League.

His worth is also evident in international football. Making his competitive debut for his country as a substitute in the 2-2 draw against England, he now has one goal and four assists in his last five matches, even if he missed the artificial turf of Kazakhstan on medical grounds, spending his time patiently honing his technique in Dubai in time for the San Marino match.

“I wasn’t involved in his departure - you can’t label that on me – but if there was a sum like £3m for the club then that would be good – it will have paid my salary!” Miller jokes. “Fans can look at these things a little bit simplistically, even then you were still looking at something in financial terms which was a huge leap for the youngster. You would obviously hope there is some kind of sell-on there, that would help remunerate the development side of the club.

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“He is already miles beyond anything I ever earned - even at Bournemouth, let alone Arsenal. But by all accounts, he is still a very down to earth young man. An unassuming, quiet lad who just wants to play football. So I think he could handle a move like that. But obviously it is a big step, it is a big step for anyone.

“It has been a while since we have had players playing an attacking role at one of the biggest clubs in England. You have to believe in your own ability and if you get the chance take the chance. He is a great role model because you should never limit yourself in what you can achieve.”