Celtic want to sign the ‘next Virgil van Dijk’ – expert
Celtic want to re-sign Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer this summer after qualifying for the Champions League.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Celtic forward Frank McAvennie shared his view that Ajer would return to Parkhead as an improved player following his time in England.
Ajer, 26, left Glasgow in a £13.5million deal in 2021 and has gone on to make 69 appearances for Brentford, with 28 coming in the most recent season as a key part of the defence.
Having qualified for the Champions League after winning the SPFL, Celtic have been told they must improve their squad to remain competitive.
Football Insider was told that the club’s financial situation has been strengthened by qualifying, which could lead to increased transfer activity.
Celtic want to sign Kristoffer Ajer from Brentford
The defender made 176 appearances for the Hoops before his move to England and would be welcomed back by supporters at Parkhead.
McAvennie insisted Ajer will have improved in England due to the level of coaching and training, and he would continue to develop under Brendan Rodgers.
“They’ve always done it. It’s like when they bought in Van Dijk, Celtic do get these types of players and it’s brilliant,” he told Football Insider.
“Even Ajer, they’re talking about him coming back from Brentford.
“He’s a big centre-half and he’ll be a better player just by the fact he’s playing in England.
“They’ll be getting a better player than the one they let go. He’s a big lump of a boy.
“When you go down there, the training and everything is different. I don’t know what Brendan is like but obviously he’s one of the top coaches.
“I wouldn’t mind him back, we need players to go into Europe.
“Under Martin O’Neill, we brought in players like Sutton and Hartson. Those are the players we need to be signing.“
In other news, James Tavernier “has told Rangers he wants to leave”.
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