Ajer has made himself an untouchable
Neil Lennon has revealed he views Kristoffer Ajer as another of Celtic’s untouchables.
Hoops owner, Dermot Desmond, bestowed that status on the Norwegian’s team-mate, Callum McGregor, when telling Leicester City the midfielder was not for sale at any price.
It was a stance welcomed by manager Lennon, not least because he had just lost Kieran Tierney for £25 million.
And ahead of Tuesday night’s return against Cluj, in which a goalless draw or victory by any margin will be enough to carry them into the competition play-offs, he hailed Ajer as equally invaluable.
“I think it’s important to have that backbone, and the architects in the dressing room who keep the standards high – on and off the field,” he said.
“Callum McGregor has been mentioned, and there are another couple as well.
“Kris Ajer has played almost every minute for me since I came in, and I think he has shown that is an outstanding talent.
“There has been interest in him (from Milan), but he would be one of the last ones I would want out the door, the way he is progressing.
“At 21-years-old, he has got so much to look forward to because he will only get better.”
Aided, in no small part, by the developing partnership he shares with Jozo Simunovic.
“They have been great,” Lennon continued.
“It is a big compliment to the two guys that I haven’t had to start Christopher Jullien in Europe.
“Kris is an outstanding talent, and Jozo is what you would call a proper centre-half.
“He wants to head it, he is comfortable on the ball and reads the play well. So I have been really pleased with him.
“It is good to have that strength in what is a really important area.
“With Jozo it is going to be difficult to play three times in the week.
“I wouldn’t say they are first choice by any means, but there is a continuity there that has been carried on and a familiarity.
“Christopher will get up to speed as we go on.”