According to the reports from the Scotsman, Manchester United have been linked with a move for Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer. The Norwegian centre back is said to be among ‘glut of’ Norwegian signings which Ole Gunnar Solskjær is targetting.
Manchester United spent the major part of their summer transfer budget to bolster their backline. They went on to sign Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissakka for big money. The club has endured a tough start to their campaign so far, and the jury is still out on whether the duo has really helped the team’s performances so far.
Does Manchester United need a defender?
There is no doubt that United need a mass clearing out at the back right now and the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo have been error-prone in the past few years. Victor Lindelof and Axel Tuanzebe are seen as options who could stay at the club for long along with Maguire.
However, there is still a case for the club to bring one or two more centre backs if they part ways with the likes of Jones, Smalling and Rojo by next summer.
Is Ajer worth considering?
Ajer might be 21, but he has a good amount of experience under his belt as he has played in the Champions League, Europa League and for the national side as well. When Ajer arrived at Celtic, he was seen as a defensive midfield option given his ability to carry the ball from the back. However, he soon settled in as a centre back given his frame(6ft4inches) and physicality.
Ajer though needs to bring a lot more consistency to his game. His concentration sometimes lets him down as he has been caught on his heels on occasions. However, he has time on his hand to improve on that aspect.
He showed his versatility this season for Celtic by playing at right-back as well. The defender has done well for the Hoops more often than not, and there was interest for him even in the summer from Premier League club Leicester City.
We think that as a backup option at the Old Trafford, Ajer can be worth considering. He is still 21, and there is enough room for improvements to his game. He is versatile, and his ability to play and carry the ball from the back will make him a significant asset. He is not a finished product yet, so United shouldn’t expect him to perform miracles. But as a squad player, he can be a handy option for Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
