The much maligned move for Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer has been rumbling on now for months now. Celtic have, apparently, initially rejected £10m bid from Norwich City and Bayer Leverkusen.
Brentford joined the race for the big Norwegian and tested the Hoops resolve with a further £12m bid plus addons but it seems that interest from all clubs has cooled. And there is a reason why.
According to Norwegian media TV2, Celtic are looking for a mouth-watering £20m for Ajer, who only has less than one year left on his current contract.
It looks like Ajer will remain at the club for now, and that will disappoint the towering stopper as it will look like the Celtic board are reneging on “promises” Ajer claims where maid to him last season.
Just before the Euro’s , Ajer held an interview with TV2 where he discussed his wish to mover from Parkhead.
He also spoke of the promise/understanding he had with the club if he remained at Paradise one more season to help with the push for the tenth title in a row, “The promise was that I would be allowed to leave last summer, but then we agreed that I would stay at the club because we were going to try to win 10 in a row.
“It was important for the club, but unfortunately we couldn’t.
“Now we have reached the point that I am leaving the club and I really expect the board to keep its word”
No doubt as time goes on, Ajer will become increasingly frustrated at the lack of movement and the apparent break of trust between him and the club, and it will do no good for both parties as long as this situation continues.
We only have to look to last season as proof of what can happen keeping unhappy players at the club.