A number of Celtic stars are expected to leave over the course of the summer as the club stare at a massive rebuild. And of course, it won’t be easy to replace these outgoing players, a number of whom are regular fixtures in the first-team at this point of time.
Odsonne Edouard has managed to grab most of the headlines with just a year left on his current contract at the end of this campaign. But it goes without saying that Kristoffer Ajer is also someone who is very important to this team.
The Norwegian international has arguably been the club’s best and most consistent defender this season, as they have struggled badly at the back. And he will also have just a year left on his current deal at the end of the season.
Norway manager, Stale Solbakken, believes that he should leave the league though and should be playing in one of the top five leagues in Europe. As reported by The Scottish Sun, he said:
"“Kristoffer has to change the league now, he must.“He does not have enough challenges in everyday life.“Therefore, I think he has got some habits, which you do not notice until he meets better opposition at international level or Europe.“So, I think it would be a smart move for him.“Kristoffer should go to one of the five major leagues. He will do that.“He has the qualities to play in those leagues and I am calm about that.”"
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Ajer could be on his way out of Celtic in the summer
Unless Celtic manage to agree a new contract with Ajer, it is likely that they will forced to let him leave this summer rather than lose him for free at the end of the following season, when he will be a free-agent.
Of course, it will make the rebuild even more difficult for the club. Shane Duffy’s loan spell is set to come to an end while Christopher Jullien is also expected to be out for the foreseeable future with an injury.
As a result, if Ajer did leave, that would leave Stephen Welsh as the only recognised centre-back available for the start of the next season. Of course, the Hoops are expected to sign defenders in the summer as they aim to solidify a backline that has leaked goals this season.