KRIS AJER is in line for a contract extension as Celtic look to tie up their star defensive asset on a long term deal, according to a report in Daily Record today. Both AC Milan and Leicester City were reported to have an interest in signing the 21 year old Norwegian international, who was brought to Celtic by former manager Ronny Deila, arriving from Norwegian side IK Start. Previously Ajer was linked to various Bundesliga clubs.
And the same paper also states that there could also be a new contract offer made to Jozo Simunovic who has been linked with a move to French Champions League side Lille. Jozo has two years left on his current Celtic deal but Celtic are likely to make moves to extend this period. Yesterday we reported on a claim that there was £7million bid for Simunovic rejected last season on the say so of former manager Brendan Rodgers.
The current Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, has consistently selected Ajer and Simunovic as he his first pick central defensive pairing and that’s exactly the pairing he opted for on Tuesday as Celtic crashed out of the Champions League against Romanian side Cluj.
Celtic’s £7million summer signing from Toulouse, Christopher Jullien was left sitting on the bench and subsequent speculation claims that neither Jullien – or indeed left back Bolingoli who was signed from Rapid Vienna for £3million last month – were players that Neil Lennon identified as signing targets.
Last week Celtic sold Kieran Tierney to Arsenal for £25million but gave no encouragement to a late enquiry about Callum McGregor from former manager Brendan Rodgers, now the boss at Leicester City.
But we know the script these days. Moussa Dembele was sold last summer for around £20million, with that money shoring up the losses from the Champions League exit to AEK Athens. This year it’s £25million in from the sale of Kieran Tierney which plugs the hole in the finances left after Tuesday’s disaster against Cluj.
Next summer the likely candidates going out the door are either Kristopher Ajer or Callum McGregor, maybe both.
What happens when we run out of £20million plus players to sell?
And given that there has been next to no transfer strategy in place at Celtic for the last year or so that is a scary prospect perhaps a year or two away. It’s time for change. It’ the for Celtic to appoint a Director of Football, with a clear remit and control over the entire football operation.
Also on The Celtic Star…
Four Celtic Men – More Supporters’ Feedback, but is Lawwell Listening?…see HERE.
The time for change at Celtic has come…see HERE.
The Winner Takes it All – It’s Celtic v AIK Stockholm in Europa Play-off…see HERE.
The Winner Takes it All – It’s Celtic v AIK Stockholm in Europa Play-off…see HERE.
