DOOR IS AJER
Celtic hand a seven-day trial to wonderkid
CELTIC could steal a march on English and European clubs after sought-after Norwegian youngster Kristoffer Ajer arrived in Glasgow to begin a week’s trial.
The 17-year-old IK Start midfielder — who is 6ft 5in tall — has been tracked by Liverpool, Tottenham, AS Roma and Hertha Berlin in recent months.
His club have, however, granted permission for Ajer to head to Scotland and let Ronny Deila study one of his homeland’s brightest talents at close quarters.
The youngest player ever to captain a Norwegian top-flight team, Ajer has one year left on his contract with Start.
A January transfer to Parkhead could now be on the cards if both parties like what they see over the next seven days.
‘Kristoffer has been allowed to visit Celtic,’ confirmed Start director Even Brandsdal. ‘We got a call from Celtic and decided that Ajer deserved to get the chance.
‘It is too early to say whether there will be a sale. For now, Kristoffer has got this opportunity with Celtic. Then we will see what happens next.’
Primarily a holding midfielder, Ajer is
comfortable in possession and scored eight goals for Start last season. A regular with Norwegian international sides up to Under-18 level, he was part of Lillestrom’s youth system before moving to their Tippeligaen rivals in 2014. Ajer, who has revealed he is a Liverpool fan, quickly established himself as a first-team player despite his youth. He took the captain’s armband for a game against his former club while still 16, setting a new record. Deila is stepping up his transfer-window plans after visiting Spain on Sunday to watch centre-half Aleksandar Pantic help Eibar record a 4-0 win over Real Betis. The 23-year-old Serb is under consideration to strengthen Celtic’s backline, with Deila also on the look-out for attacking reinforcements. Celtic were last night linked with Athletic Bilbao striker Borja Viguera — although a loan move for the out-of-favour 28-yearold seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Ryan Christie admits he cannot wait to make his Celtic debut. The 20-year-old is undergoing rehabilitation with his new club as he bids to fight back from the knee injury he suffered while playing for Inverness at Motherwell on November 7 last year. He has been recalled from his loan at Caley Thistle and hopes to be fit later this month. Christie said: ‘Now I am with the team, I feel part of the changing room. I have been at a couple of games. I can’t wait to get out there and, hopefully, make an impact.’