Photo by Lars Ronbog / FrontZoneSport via Getty Images

News

HomeNewsCelticEnglish Premier LeagueNewcastle United

International manager says player needs to leave Celtic this summer

Will Butcher

Mon 22 March 2021 8:45, UK

it is time to leave Celtic for defender Kristoffer Ajer this summer, as Scottish football does not challenge Ajer – and the report claims Newcastle and Milan are admirers.

Ajer, 22, has clocked up a quite incredible 170 appearances for Celtic despite still being in the early days of his professional career. His form, at such a young age, has not gone unnoticed – with clubs constantly being linked.

The Norway international has clocked up 40 of those 170 this season – helping Celtic keep 17 clean sheets but ultimately not doing enough to keep them on a level playing field with Rangers. Solbakken wants him to leave.

Indeed, the Norway boss thinks it is time for Ajer to depart. He believes that he needs to move to one of Europe’s top-five leagues – especially as he is about to enter the last 12 months of his current contract.

“He has to change league now. He must. He does not have enough challenges in everyday life. He has got some habits, which you don’t notice until he meets better opposition in international matches or Europe,”

“He should go to one of the five major leagues. He will do that. He has the prerequisites to play in all those leagues. I’m calm about that. He can not play as I tell him, at Celtic.”

TBR’s view – Ajer likely to go, but at what price?

The fact Ajer’s contract is due to expire in little over 12 months puts Celtic in a difficult position. They cannot charge premium price, given this summer’s window presents the last opportunity for them to command a fee.

However, they are still well within their rights to expect a figure greater than £10million. If they can get a fee similar to the one they received for Jeremie Frimpong, then they will have done well. Newcastle and Milan are keen