Football across the globe is experiencing uncertainty at this moment amid the Coronavirus outbreak. But the rumours are surfacing every now and then despite the game’s indefinite suspension and the latest comments of Kristoffer Ajer on his Celtic future must be a relief for the Celtic fans.
A recent update (from CalcioMercato) suggested A.C. Milan’s interest in the Norwegian. The Rossoneri are in the market for a young and dynamic centre-half and have reportedly identified the 21-year-old as a potential transfer target to reconfigure their deep defensive line amid questions over Mateo Musacchio and Simon Kjær’s long-term future at San Siro.
The Player’s Perspective On His Celtic Future
Although his current deal at Parkhead is set to expire in a couple of years, there has been no update about an extension. The player’s agent Tore Pedersen (while speaking to the Daily Record) instead talked about a summer exit last month that alerted a host of outfits.
“He will not extend his contract with Celtic and will leave this summer. There are several clubs who are interested, but I can’t go into their names. There are many who have followed him for a long period.”
While there have been various reports on Ajer’s next career move over the course of the past few weeks, the youngster refrained from reacting to the speculations until today when he opened up on his future.
“I have two years left of the contract and do not focus on my future at all. What the media writes, I don’t focus on it.”
He told FVN (as cited by the Daily Record) pledging his commitment towards the Scottish champions.
Why Lennon Must Make The Call
Having said that, Neil Lennon must be experienced enough to understand the situation and therefore, should explore the market extensively for a quality alternative prior to the upcoming term. Ajer is unlikely to extend his stay in Glasgow, and the club must aim for a financial profit over losing him for nothing in 2022.
The Bhoys have several central defensive options in their ranks following the summer arrival of Christopher Jullien and Hatem Abd Elhamed. Jozo Simunovic and Nir Bitton are also there to slot in the heart of their backline whereas 20-year-old Stephen Welsh is also rated highly by Lennon who handed the homegrown prodigy his senior Celtic debut against Hamilton Academical a couple of months back. Although injuries have led to a crisis in the past, the Hoops have always found a way to retain their supremacy in Scotland.
