According to a recent tweet by transfer expert and journalist Nicolo Schira, as has been quoted by the Daily Express, Premier League high-flyers Leicester City are said to be considering a summer move to acquire the services of Celtic’s Norwegian international defensive starlet Kristoffer Ajer. The 22-year-old has been linked with a move away from Celtic Park for a while, but it has now been clarified that the Celts’ former manager – Brendan Rodgers – currently at Leicester City, is keen on a reunion with the mammoth defender.
With both Leicester City and AC Milan keen on Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer, keeping him at Parkhead beyond the summer could turn out to be a near impossible task for the Scottish giants. The fact that it was Brendan Rodgers who first signed Ajer for Celtic is sure to have a significant impact on the player’s decision making. The Italian journalist has also gone on to claim that AC Milan chief executive Ivan Gazidis is in ‘advanced talks’ with the centre-half’s agents over a potential summer switch to the Serie A.
What Makes Kristoffer Ajer Such An Attractive Prospect?
The big defender has been one of the standout names in this Celtic squad for a while now, and his performances over the last couple of seasons showcase exactly why some of the biggest teams in the continent have been linked with moves for his services. Standing at over 1.97m tall, Ajer offers an almost unbelievable physical presence in either box. At the same time, his ability to attack set-piece situations is second to none in the Celtic squad too.
Despite his humongous physical size though, the 22-year-old does seem like a gentle soul (a bit like Per Mertesacker) who also knows how to defend. Adept at positioning himself correctly to deal with dangerous crosses and through balls, Ajer isn’t afraid to put his body on the line to ensure that his team gets the three points. Given all his well-balanced attributes and sheer general size, it’s perhaps not at all surprising that he’s already found suitors in the Premier League and Serie A.
The Norwegian played in a total of 28 Premiership fixtures this season before the campaign was brought to a halt – a period during which the defender picked up a strong tally of three goals and two assists. Most importantly, Ajer tends to be extremely disciplined, even when dealing with high-pressure situations. The fact that the 22-year-old picked up just seven yellow cards in almost 50 appearances across all competitions this season indicates that he knows how to maintain his head.
Leicester City And AC Milan Keen On Kristoffer Ajer: Can Lennon Afford To Let Him Leave?
The presence of Jozo Simunovic and summer signing Christopher Jullien does put Neil Lennon in a fairly comfortable spot, but comparing either of the aforementioned defenders to Ajer’s sheer quality would be a mistake. The only way this Celtic team will recover from Ajer’s potential departure is by spending money in the transfer market, and given the current situation around the world, the likelihood of them finding an able replacement seems quite bleak.
To that effect, Lennon must begin talks with the Norwegian to try and keep him at the club, as a move away could be the perfect opportunity for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side to give the Hoops a run for their money in the title race.
