According to a recent report by the Daily Record, Neil Lennon’s Celtic side are said to be lining up a loan bid in an attempt to acquire the services of West Ham United flop Albian Ajeti this summer. The report suggests that the Celts’ gaffer is keen on strengthening his squad ahead of the upcoming campaign, with a lot riding on what position they end up finishing this season. The Hammers’ striker is claimed to be high on the Bhoys’ summer wish-list right now, and that the London club are willing to permit his departure just a season after arriving from FC Basel.
Although the fact that Celtic are keen on West Ham United’s Albian Ajeti is now clarified, whether or not Lennon should be treating this signing a priority is a question that remains to be answered. The report suggests that the Hammers value their forward at around £8m, but that Celtic’s preference at this time would be a loan deal.
It has been suggested though that the Parkhead side are considering alternate options on how to bring the player to Glasgow prior to the start of the much-awaited 20/21 Premiership campaign.
What Makes Albian Ajeti A Good Option For Celtic?
The Swiss international striker arrived at the Premier League outfit from the Swiss top-flight just last summer and saying that his first campaign at the London Stadium has been a failure would only act as a massive understatement. Having initially signed with huge expectations from the Hammers’ fans already weighing him down, the 23-year-old didn’t manage a single goal in England. He only ended up making nine substitute appearances in the entirety of the Premier League.
The Swiss striker had actually made quite the name for himself at Basel, scoring goals for the Champions League regulars at a considerable pace. His last two seasons in the Super League both yielded extremely prolific results, and his inability to recreate that scoring touch in England has been an issue. Ajeti scored 14 times in the league for both of the last two Swiss campaigns, with the most recent one in London producing his worst scoring record of any season till date. The 23-year-old has been capped ten times by the Switzerland national team, a period during which he managed a goal for them as well.
Do The Celts Really Need Another Striker In The Ranks?
The Bhoys are set to start the upcoming Premiership campaign with three recognised options to choose from up-front as things stand. French sensation Odsonne Edouard has undoubtedly tied down the starting role over the last couple of seasons, but the recent resurgence of Patryk Klimala could tempt Neil Lennon into throwing the odd curveball in the league. As good as the Polish striker has been in recent weeks, one usually forgotten name also exists in the Celtic roster – Leigh Griffiths. The Scot’s return to the team last season triggered a positive response from the entire squad, and his contributions in front of goal cannot be underplayed either.
Celtic Are Keen On West Ham United’s Albian Ajeti: Should Lennon Look To Sign Him?
Odsonne Edouard, for all the question marks surrounding his immediate future, does look set to stay on at Parkhead for another campaign, and that’ll unquestionably come as good news to the manager and players alike. Patryk Klimala has shown various glimpses of his quality, while Griffiths’ presence will also be vital over the course of what promises to be an important campaign. Given the numbers in the Celtic ranks, this might not be an essential buy at this time, but considering the sheer potential that the 23-year-old boasts, it might not be the worst idea to snap him up for added depth.
