Neil Lennon’s hunt for additional firepower has taken an unexpected twist with The Daily Record reporting that the on/off loan move for West Ham United’s Albian Ajeti now the subject of a £5million permanent one.
With Peterborough United continuing to play hardball over Ivan Toney and demanding an exorbitant transfer fee for a player with no experience at top flight level, let alone international or even continental, it looks as though Nick Hammond and Lennon have reallocated the potential resources towards Ajeti.
Despite a torrid time at West Ham since signing from Basel for £8m last summer, the Swiss international produced figures of 21 goals and 11 assists in 41 appearances the season before, demonstrating that he is more than capable of leading the line for the Hoops.
One poor season in the Premier League does not a bad player make and Celtic fans will know this only too well having witnessed what the out of favour Southampton winger, Mohamed Elyounoussi, is capable of before suffering an unfortunate injury that ruled him out for most of the winter last season.
Ajeti has 10 international caps to his name and with nearly a goal every two games added to an assist every five in Switzerland’s Super League for Basel and St Gallen, his pedigree is significantly higher than that of Toney and, if the £5m fee is to be believed, he could represent something of a coup for Celtic’s recruitment team.
Who would you prefer to sign permanently?
Ivan Toney
Albian Ajeti
After a turbulent weekend, Lennon will be keen to get back to something representing normality, and improving his squad for the assault on the Scottish Premiership and Champions League qualification is now his primary focus with Ajeti providing the sort of quality that could almost guarantee success in both.