Whether he stay or goes one thing seems certain, Kris Ajer won’t be signing a new contract at Celtic. His last agent, Tore Pedersen made clear he expected a move this summer for his previous client. Ajer’s recent axing of that agent certainly raised hopes in some quarters that the change in representation could put a foot in the door for Celtic. Was there now an opportunity to persuade Kris that his future could still lie at Celtic Park?

Since then Ajer has announced his new representatives are Dutch group SEG. As a large agency representing Robin Van Persie in the past, as well as looking after the current interests of Lyon captain Memphis Depay, Atalanta’s Marten de Roon and Marseille’s Kevin Strootman, it would appear they will be looking to cash in on that first lucrative contract for their new client.

With rumours of Manchester City and Real Madrid fanciful to say the least, there are still two possibilities on that list in AC Milan and of course a return the coaching methods of the man who broke him into first team football as a central defender, Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City. And The Celtic Star’s story last weekend linking Ajer to Atletico was soundly sourced, I understand.

One thing appears clear. Kris Ajer didn’t call in new representatives to get a wage increase and extended contract at Celtic. This was a view to negotiating the best possible deal with a club in one of the big five leagues. Could he still be here for the 10-in-a-row campaign? Of course he could. Will Celtic want him to slip into that final year of a contract and the depreciation in remuneration it would come with? Not likely.

As such Celtic are looking at alternatives. This week Kieran Devlin of the Athletic was speaking to the Bhoys on the brilliant ‘The Cynic’ Agenda Podcast.

On it Devlin mentioned that Celtic were looking at ‘risk averse’ transfer targets and mentioned one of the players that may be targeted was Scott McKenna from Aberdeen.

The fact Devlin backed this up by saying he’d been advised Celtic had tried to sign McKenna in three separate transfer windows, would certainly indicate there has been long standing admiration of the Aberdeen centre half from those at Celtic.

Any move for McKenna is likely to split the Celtic support and whether the player would fit the bill in terms of quality would be questionable until he was to start performing for Celtic on a regular basis. But is that any different for any signing?

One thing that seems clear is McKenna can more than handle the domestic game. Since going out on loan to Alloa and Ayr United McKenna has established himself as Aberdeen’s top defender. 112 appearances and six goals from centre back shows he’s an established player and one who at 23 already has 14 international caps to his name.

Injury slowed his start to the last campaign and he certainly seemed ponderous in getting back up to speed, but the same could be said for much of an Aberdeen squad who seemed laden down with the overly defensive tactics of Derek McInnes last season.

An industrious side as they are, they lack any creativity in their side in the final third and appear a side unwilling to entertain as a result. It always appeared as an outsider looking in the McInnes side were a team who, if they scored first would protect what they had, and if they conceded first they’d struggle to come back. They were a side bereft of confidence by the time McKenna returned to the team and with little inspiration from the bench, as a club they appeared to be stuck in a rut. Indeed the Aberdeen support had started to turn on the manager. If McKenna’s mindset matched the impression of the team, then it’s clear that a new challenge may assist him to flourish.

McKenna certainly fits the bill of risk averse and Celtic it would appear have not only scouted the player extensively, they also seem keen to get their man. Three attempts to date would certainly indicate just that.

So would McKenna fit in to a Neil Lennon side? On paper he would.

Celtic’s change to a 3-5-2 formation has seen an expansive attacking side. From middle to front we are creating more opportunities. Callum McGregor has more licence to get forward and the wing backs and two striker approach floods the opposition half. It’s entertaining, but the back three has often looked unbalanced.

Kris Ajer himself it could be argued – much like McKenna – saw his form drop off a little this season. Whilst McKenna’s seems linked to a slow recovery from injury and returning to a side lacking confidence, Ajer’s really occurred after the change in formation.

Playing on the left side of a back three did not help Ajer. His left foot is for balance and when Greg Talyor advances, Ajer is often exposed as the left sided centre half. Having to switch to his right foot left him looking cumbersome and awkward. Being played there and deputising at right back may have focused his mind on an alternative destination for his talents.

The addition of McKenna as a left footed centre half, strong in the tackle and from his regular battles with Morelos, he’s showed outside of Celtic there aren’t many strikers likely to trouble him, may suit Celtic’s approach.

If Lennon is to proceed with a back three, and it looks like he is, then McKenna ticks a lot of boxes in terms of the shape of the team and the sort of ‘defend first’ style Lennon likes from his Martin O’Neil inspired formation. The balance of having a natural left footer can only benefit.

There is a leap of faith required. Was McKenna’s last season indicative of a drop off in form – in an up to that point footballing ascent – or was it much like Ajer’s, more than likely just a minor aberration in a career that is going places?

Will McKenna make the step up in terms of handling the expectation and pressure to win week in week out and in front of one of the most demanding supports in British football and can he adapt to playing in European competition as well as he’s handled the domestic game?

That last point is possibly the biggest if, but McKenna and Celtic aren’t going to know that until we try, and there are few European proven players within Celtic’s price range. Even last summer’s £7million central defender Christopher Jullien had that point to prove and he did just that.

And talking of cost, now may be the perfect time to test Aberdeen’s resolve.

Yes Dave Cormack will make noises about not selling assets on the cheap, he would say that wouldn’t he? But the cold hard facts are Aberdeen have already advised they are losing a considerable amount of money during the Covid 19 shutdown. If Peter Lawwell is tempted to cash in on Kris Ajer then Cormack, despite protestations to the contrary, would also sell if it meant a little financial security in these uncertain times. For Lawwell the deal ticks all the boxes. A £20 million sale and £5million or less replacement is the sort of turnaround that would see the Celtic CEO rubbing his hands.

There may be some who would question the signing of Scott McKenna, and the move would not be without risk, however there is improvement to be made with the player. In a sink or swim environment McKenna may just flourish surrounded by good players and a will to improve week in week out.

As a Kris Ajer replacement there is worth in considering McKenna as an able replacement. When you also consider Jozo Simunovic is leaving – and without the benefit of a transfer fee – then another defensive replacement will need to be sought in addition to McKenna.

The sale of Ajer will allow for two defenders to come in, and with excess of £10-12million profit likely, it’s safe to assume Peter Lawwell and Dave Cormack may already be crunching numbers.

Niall J