Report: Kris Ajer part of three-defender choice for AC Milan; Maldini to ponder decision on Celtic star

By David Walton

November 29, 2020

Celtic centre-back Kristoffer Ajer’s potential move to AC Milan could be determined one way or another over the next few weeks, Milan News 24 reports.

The Italian source has reported that Milan’s Technical Director, Paolo Maldini, is giving himself several weeks to think about what to do over his centre-back options for January.

MilanNews24 states that Ajer is part of a three-defender group Milan are looking at as they determine which one to move for. These reportedly include Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic and Strasbourg’s Mohamed Simakan. All three were linked with potential summer moves to the San Siro.

Last week, respected Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Ajer was on the radar of Milan’s heading into the January window. This was added to by Milan News reporter Antonio Vitiello, who tweeted last week that the Celtic man could be used as part of a swap-deal for Diego Laxalt.

67HailHail gave our own view on the matter last week, where we made it clear why a straight swap for Ajer and Laxalt shouldn’t be enough for Celtic to do a deal. However, it may not even be certain yet that the Norwegian defender is who Milan will end up going for.

Celtic shouldn’t accept a thing in January

If Milan truly want Ajer, then they’ll have to wait until the end of the season, and that’s even if they can stump up an offer we would be willing to accept.

Yes, Celtic will be easier to deal with in the summer given that Ajer’s contract is only running until the end of the 2021/22 season. But this year remains too important to go cashing in on any of our top stars in the January window. The fact Celtic are 11 points behind Rangers (albeit with two games in-hand) doesn’t help matters.

If Celtic allow Ajer to depart for any fee in the winter window then we’re putting ourselves at risk even if we do sign a replacement. Anyone who comes in to try and take Ajer’s place will be met with a barrage of pressure from the start. There will be absolutely no room for a bedding in period considering there’s no winter break this season either.

Celtic star Kristoffer Ajer / (Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)

If Milan decide to go for the Norwegian, and there are no guarantees that will be the case either given some of the alternatives they’re said to be looking at, then they’re going to have to wait for him.

It still remains to be seen if they’ll be willing to do that, especially considering they were on the hunt for a centre-back during the summer period. It would seem unusual for them not to bother trying to bring one in at the start of 2021.

And that’s what any deal for our man simply all boils down to – the timing. Hopefully, the board stands firm when we need them to in the new year.

In other news, Neil Lennon’s Europa League update should keep fans interested in the matches ahead.