I was reminded of a basic truth during a conversation with a football agent yesterday.
He said to me that “at a well-run football club every player is up for sale”.
I countered by saying that any manager wanted continuity, to have a core of the side ever-present.
He clarified and said that he didn’t mean that the entire playing squad would be pushed out of the door.
However, if a potential buyer met the club’s valuation, then it was deal on.
For the avoidance of doubt, Celtic are a very well run football club.
That means that Kristoffer Ajer is for sale too.
To that end, if AC Milan can put down £25m, then the young Scandinavian might have played his last game in the Hoops.
My information is that the Italian outfit had thought that a first instalment of £8m was appropriate with the balance over the next two transfer windows.
Instead, I’m told that Celtic want the £25m in the same fashion that Arsenal stumped up for Kieran Tierney.
That means pretty much all of it upfront.
If that deal was done then it would mean that-in financial terms-COVID didn’t happen for Celtic.
My agent fella also told me that he had heard that the goalkeeping situation at Parkhead would not be allowed to fester.
“Expect some movement on it this week, next week at the latest”.
With Fraser Forster back at his parent club and the possibility of Ajer leaving then the spine of Lennon’s treble winners is undoubtedly weaker.
Clearly, if there is an 11th-hour volte-face decision by Fraser Forster then there will be general rejoicing among the Hoops faithful.
Of course, the difference between Celtic and their neighbours across the Clyde is that there is cash available to augment the squad and replace those who leave.
There is no Parkhead equivalent of Operation Sell Alfredo.
The good news on the Colombian is that the putative injury that I had heard of turned out not to be serious.
After all, cramp isn’t really an injury.
The resource profile of both Glasgow clubs could not be more different.
Despite the gushing pish from the Stenography Corps it would be a crass mistake to lose sight of that.
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Completely off topic here Phil. In a previous post you mentioned you were fairly sure that your Shirebrook guy was holding something back.
Could it be that MA has reached a settlement with sevco. Obviously any such settlement would see sevco losng the drawers off their arses.
I have three reasons for wondering about this.
1. All seems to have gone very quiet regarding the damages due to SD.
2. The chances of sevco having the financial wherewithal to pay those damages is somewhere between slim and fuck-all.
3. It would go some way to explaining the mixed messages flying from all points sevco over the last couple of weeks.
My gut feeling is that Big Mike is now calling the shots at the crumbledome and given the orcs resistance to him it’s being kept as quiet as possible for as long as possible.
Another thing. I read somewhere today that CL qualification for Man U. would trigger an automatic payment of £25m from Adidas. Puts our deal into perspective.
Phil,
Don’t give up on Press Media just yet. Just read Defoe in the Daily Mail. What a piece of pure Stand -Up genius. A gag-a-line. You could not make it up. Pure Theatre.For 70 pence…! Might even put it on order it for Christmas.
Then again, I might just save the money!
To put it as another Italian once said, “We should make him an offer he can’t refuse”.
We could build a team for the next 7-8 years around Calmac, Christie and Ajer.
Big Eddie would be a wish too far.
Do you not mean in the next seven to eight days regarding Ajer.
Can’t a man dream???
Incidentally, a few months ago someone posted on here that Ajer would go for less than Virgil. I disagreed strongly. I stated at the time he would go for at least twice the money and certainly NOT to Southampton.
I still maintain, Ajer is a better player than Virgil was at the SAME age.
Cheers Phil,was trying to leave a like but,it doesn’t work here on your site,works proper elsewhere.
The like button for comments has also be affected too…I’ve tried resetting my details and resubscribing,no change on it.
I cannot see Eddy going,I think that maybe was who you referring to without mentioning his name.A newly boosted contract will ensure that Eddy stays,imho I think he WANTS TO.
Players go on about improving their contract,rightly so,however,I imagine that some,granted a lesser % overall,will show loyalty to their present clubs but,there must be some that think…I am going into the history books with Celtic FC and YES I do want to be part of it!
A small percentage but,nonetheless there will be some.I think.Money isn’t everything
Ajer is as good as gone though,Celtic should have set the minimum price higher,to stop any low bidding and those who are uncertain and keeping their options open.FULL payment only.
It’s not a sofa they’re hoping to buy so,no credit terms,esp. in these uncertain days
When I saw Leigh Griffiths play for Hibs way back then…I said to the folk on the bus that he was a-player we should go after…and we did.
Since then I’ve backed him the whole way…even when he wasn’t playing at his best.
I also hoped that he would get through his issues last year… and return a better player …and he did.
Imagine my shock, then, when the news broke about his latest “issue ” …which seems to be nothing other than stupidity and unprofessionalism…and totally avoidable.
To say I’m pissed off with him is putting it mildly. He needs a real good kick up the arse…and should be warned about his future conduct.
Really disappointed in you wee man.
It really could be LAST chance saloon this time. Such a silly man. He has the ability and enough years left in him to write himself into history. He’s risking flushing the lot down the toilet.
You have to wonder Charger….
What possesses him to do stuff like this ?
After what he came through recently…and the backing he received from the Club and the support…you would have thought that it would be onwards and upwards for him.
Yeah…you would have thought…but what the feck do we know.
Truly baffled by his stupid behaviour.
Aye. Maybe he’s just not very bright. Wouldn’t be the first smashing player to have all his brains in his boots. It would be such a waste of talent!
I imagine it would have to be a bumper move for a player to leave with 10iar looming. One more season and if they win it your making history. I would think that still holds sway even with modern football mercanaries.
Unless your name is Brendan…
I think you’re correct. From what I’ve heard of young Mr Ajer he absolutely loves playing for the hoops. The 10 IAR is a big deal with .
What no one can legislate for is an agent more interested in his own cut than the development of a young player.
There is also the existing contract situation to consider from the point of view of the club. There wtll only be a year left on his current deal at the end of next season. Meaning he would be 6 months away from being able to sign a pre-contact elsewhere. If he’s balking at a new deal then £25m will look attractive however it’s paid.
If we are forced to sell Ajer then the club need all the money upfront to replace him. £8m and the rest on tick just doesn’t cut it. If another club are keen to have him then they should pay the entire going rate. It sounds like it’s a sevco-type deal that skint clubs put forward.
Don’t like the thought of losing the big man who’s shaping up to be a Celtic legend if he stays. HH