Albian Ajeti made a surprise return to the Celtic match-day squad for the Hoops 2-0 midweek win over St Mirren. The £4.5m signing from West Ham had of course had been out the picture since injuring his hamstring in a Europa League Dead-rubber win over Real Betis at the start of December, and with Giorgos Giakoumakis missing a second successive game due to illness, the Swiss striker was a welcome insurance policy to have from the bench.
Yet Ajeti in the end was an unused substitute on Wednesday night, and it now appears from reports today that Ange Postecoglou may have little use for Ajeti whatsoever after the conclusion of this league campaign.
According to Football Insider, ‘A Celtic source has told Football Insider that Ajeti does not figure in Ange Postecoglou’s plans going forward and the club will listen to offers for him in the upcoming window.’ – this following talks between the club and the player’s representatives.
For Albian Ajeti this is probably no surprise. Despite a good record in Switzerland with FS Basel, Ajeti failed to cut it at West Ham and his subsequent move to Celtic, despite a bright start, has been plagued by injury and a lack of consistent goals when he has been fit to play.
There is no doubting Ajeti has talent, however, he seems to prefer playing in a front two and at Celtic in Ange Postecoglou’s system, there is little room to deploy a dual strike force. Now it would appear if Ajeti was to remain at the club, he’d be a fourth choice striking option behind Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis, and on a substantial weekly wage by Celtic’s standards that is simply not a practical situation.
Ajeti has scored only three goals this season and nine in total during his time with the club, this over the course of 48 games. As such it certainly makes sense for both parties if a deal could be brokered either on loan or a permanent transfer to see Ajeti moved on.
Given his recent goal record is far from inspiring, and his injury record far from confidence inducing, the question may well be who will take a punt on Albian Ajeti without seeing an evidenced upturn in form and minutes played?
That won’t be an easy task for Ajeti’s representatives to pull off, and with a player still under contract, it may well be shifting Ajeti off the wage bill will be a tough ask without Celtic taking a further financial hit to make it happen.
Niall J
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