Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon is preparing for life without his key centre-back Kristoffer Ajer – according to a report in the Football Insider.
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is desperate to reunite with the 22-year-old defender and there have been numerous rumours that the Foxes are about to launch a bid. And now as per Football Insider, Celtic have given up hopes of holding onto Ajer for one more season.
The report claims: “Neil Lennon has told friends Celtic don’t expect Kristoffer Ajer to play for them again, Football Insider has learned.
“The Hoops hierarchy believe they are fighting a losing battle in their hopes to stop the ambitious central defender, 22, to moving on this summer amid interest from elite Premier League and Serie A clubs.
“A Celtic source has told Football Insider that manager Lennon is already making plans for reshaping his defence without a mainstay of his second spell in charge.”
Is Kristoffer Ajer on his way to Leicester City?
Kristoffer Ajer joined Celtic in 2016 for a fee of just £540,000, as per TransferMarkt. And the Bhoys will be ready to sell him off this summer if an interested club is willing to pay somewhere around £20 million.
This is obviously a massive profit in terms of a single player, that too amidst such a massive financial crunch. And maybe the fiscal aspect is one of the major aspects that has prompted Lennon to agree to a sale.
The Hoops boss would have loved to hold onto Kristoffer Ajer for one more season but if Leicester City are actually ready to pay the demanded amount then there’s no way the Scottish club can turn a blind eye.
The 22-year-old has just two years left on his current deal at Parkhead and a couple of months ago there were reports that Ajer had rejected a new contract which included a pay rise to around £25,000-a-week.
These are clear intentions that he wishes to head for greener pastures during the summer transfer window and maybe he is destined to play in the Premier League.
