Diego Laxalt’s Celtic career may look grim at face value so far with one win in five games, but the truth couldn’t be any further from that description.
The Uruguayan has slotted in at left-back for the Hoops in recent games and has been one of the club’s best performers. Indeed, against Rangers, AC Milan, Aberdeen, Lille, and Aberdeen again – Laxalt has never once looked out of place.
He’s shown tremendous technique on the ball and an ability to get Celtic out of tight areas. He’s also shown some decent crossing ability as well as electric pace when necessary. Most importantly of all, however, his ability to intercept possession and turn defence into attack has been sensational. Typified by his stunning display against Lille where he made 13 interceptions in total.
So much so that there is already plenty of debate on social media regarding potentially keeping Laxalt here beyond next summer. Neil Lennon said yesterday that it was “early days” regarding a potential summer deal (Daily Record).
Of course, it looks like a difficult negotiation to pull off. Sky Sports reported on deadline-day that Milan wanted as much as £9million for the Uruguay international. However, the loan deal went ahead with no option-to-buy fee agreed.
Yet, as is the key for any party in negotiations – Celtic have want Milan want. It’s not money either. It’s centre-back Kristoffer Ajer.
Ajer’s departure must be accepted as inevitable
Whilst we don’t want to be parting with our best players, next summer could be our last chance to get a fee for the Norwegian, whose contract is up in 2022. With no signs of him signing a new one, a move to Milan could be used to benefit all parties here.
Milan boss Stefano Pioli admitted less than a fortnight ago that his side were interested in Ajer over the summer (Glasgow Times). And a failure to add a centre-back to their ranks will only increase the pressure on them to sign another next year, if not in January.
This is where Celtic could use one of their assets to potentially get Laxalt for nothing. It’s fair to say that Ajer, even in the last year of his contract, is worth a lot more than £9m. Any deal for Laxalt would hardly be a straight swap, but it could provide us a chance to sort out our left-back problem for the long-term whilst still managing to get some cold hard cash from the sale too.
If Celtic sold Ajer for £7m-£10m plus Laxalt, for example, then it would give us more than enough to solve our left-back problem whilst bringing in a replacement such as a Mark McKenzie or Ben Davies respectively.
Laxalt’s deal with Milan will also expire in 2022, so using him to drive down a fee for Ajer could be extremely attractive to them. After all, why risk selling Ajer for more money and then bringing in another left-back of a lesser quality than Laxalt? We would be as well using the Norwegian’s inevitable departure as a way to help us secure genuine long-term quality in the position.
It’s one potential route to go down should Milan’s appetite for Ajer remain strong in the summer. So long as he doesn’t sign a new deal, there’s not much point in keeping him longer than the 10-in-a-row season. The thought of letting him leave for nothing is absolutely criminal.
Should all parties be willing, this could easily help Celtic secure Laxalt for absolutely zilch.
In other news, the Celtic supporters weren’t pleased with a flashpoint involving Lewis Ferguson and Albian Ajeti yesterday.
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