Kris Ajer is apparently a transfer target for Liverpool.
A tweet from Celtic Underground late this afternoon triggered a lot of reaction but while some fans have a downer on the defender after agent inspired speculation about a move there is a lot of logic to a possible move for the new EPL champions.
At the age of 22 Ajer has over 120 Celtic appearances to his name at the same age as Celtic signed van Dijk from Groningen.
Van Dijk strolled through Scottish football for two years but most media critics didn’t think that the same style of play would transfer to the more demanding English game.
In 2015 the Dutchman moved to Southampton with Liverpool quickly on the scene. Their first bid of £40m seemed to upset Southampton who held firm, retained the player until January 2018 and picked up a then record fee of £75m when their defender moved to Anfield.
With van Dijk on board Liverpool reached the 2018 Champions League Final, won the competition a year later then became Champions of England in 2020.
There is absolutely no guarantee that Ajer will follow the same route but for £20m it could be money well spent by Jurgen Klopp with a season on loan to Southampton or a similar club giving the defender the chance to test himself in English football.
Within Celtic Park the club is believed to be preparing for the departure of Ajer during the current transfer window.
Liverpool looking at Ajer.
— Celtic Underground* (@celticrumours) August 24, 2020
I’ve always thought he had Van Dijk potential but he’s stalled a little bit this year on the defensive side. Got all the other attributes, pace, power, comfortable on the ball. Just feel he lacks the arrogance van Dijk had.
— grimbobaggins (@grimbobaggins1) August 24, 2020
It would make sense sell Ajer use some of that money of Duffy and Turnbull. Bitton can play centre half. Controversial but Hatem is our best centre half and should be given a solid run in that position
— Michael McCormack (@MikeMcCormack07) August 24, 2020
He isn’t extending his contract and it runs out next year so will def be punted this season
— MoRodgers (@MoRodgers4) August 24, 2020
