It seems almost certain that Kristoffer Ajer will be moving out on loan during the January after six months with Celtic.
After a few first team appearances in pre-season matches he has had to settle for life with the Development Squad in their various competitions.
Playing in the UEFA u-19 Champions League, the Premier League International Cup and the SPFL Development League will have given the Norwegian teenager a valuable insight into the demands of being a Celtic player.
Before joining Celtic, Ajer had captained Start in the top division of Norwegian football which exposed him to the real world of the professional game where seasoned professionals are playing for their bonus.
The next step in his career will be crucial to build on the momentum to date. Putting players out on loan is a risky business but it looks like Liam Henderson has benefited from 15 months on the road at Rosenborg and Hibs.
THE SPFL OPTION
If the aim is to produce a Celtic player why not send Ajer to another SPFL club?
By staying close to his adopted home Ajer can continue to get used to the unique demands of the Scottish game and get an insight into how other clubs operate.
A bottom half club would probably be best, the plastic pitches of Kilmarnock and Hamilton probably rule out those options opening the door to a deal with Motherwell or Partick Thistle?
ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE ONE
It’s a market that has rarely been tested by Celtic but with his physical attributes Ajer should be able to handle the demands of playing in League One.
Three years ago a stint with Notts County worked wonders for Callum McGregor, it looked like he was on his way out the door but instead he came back revived and scoring away goals in Europe for fun.
Having settled into life in Glasgow a slightly different style of football and a glut of fixtures would do Ajer the world of good.
HOLLAND
With a more refined style of football Ajer would get a priceless insight into another style of play, a style of football that many still view as the blueprint for developing rounded footballers.
As well as the Ajax way there are a number of other clubs that invest heavily in youth development allowing players to develop at their own pace.
Lots of Scandinavia players move to Holland as a step up from their native league hoping to use it as a springboard to one of the top leagues.
BELGIUM
Belgian football especially has a high number of imports and has developed a recent reputation for bringing players through the ranks into full internationalists.
Since the arrival of Victor Wanyama in 2011 Celtic have had the area well scouted and should know the club best suited to Ajer’s needs.
Tony Watt had a great start to a loan deal with Lierse, although it didn’t work out to everyone’s satisfaction he showed enough to attract Standard Liege into paying out a £1m transfer fee.