The Celtic defender is said to be a target for the Premier League side.
The Sun on Sunday reported this week that Kristoffer Ajer is a £20m transfer target for Leicester City (03/11 print edition, page 61).
The paper believe that Brendan Rodgers is keen on making him a long-term replacement for the in form Jonny Evans.
However, knowing that Celtic won’t be keen on a January switch, the former Hoops boss is willing to be patient and make his move next summer, the report states.
Ajer is a significant talent and has been an integral part of Neil Lennon’s side throughout 2019. With his contract not running out until 2022, the Hoops also hold all the cards when it comes to a departure.
Should they entertain that kind of transfer interest?
One thing the Foxes could do to beef up any approach is include former Celtic loanee Filip Benkovic.
That’s something Celtic should take very seriously if it comes to fruition.
Benkovic’s current status
Using the Croatian as a makeweight in any deal wouldn’t be the worst idea at all for Leicester, considering he doesn’t seem to be in Rodgers’ first-team plans at the moment.
He’s not been included in a single matchday squad with the senior side this season, with zero opportunity to impress from the start or from the bench in matches.
It’s not as if Leicester are hurting without him, they’re having a stellar season, but it does seem he is surplus to requirements.
The 22-year-old signed for the club for a reported £13m fee back in 2018 (Leicester Mercury) and there’s no use having an asset like that doing nothing when he could be used to land an apparent transfer target.
Ready made replacement
While a straight £20m fee would be excellent reward for the work Celtic have put into Ajer’s development, more important would be replacing his presence in Neil Lennon’s team.
Injury problems continue to plague Jozo Simunovic, leaving Christopher Jullien as the only natural centre-back performing at a high level for the Hoops right now.
It’s difficult to sign real quality in the transfer market, but Benkovic would be a ready made replacement who knows all about what it means to play for the club.
He enjoyed a season-long loan at Celtic Park last term and impressed in 27 appearances. Only injury ensured he would eventually drop out of the team in the second half of the season.
With a return to Leicester then looming, Lennon chose to play stars who would be sticking around in the summer, which included Ajer.
A cash plus Benkovic deal would provide the perfect balance between profiting on a key asset and immediately securing a viable replacement, covering all ends of the Hoops’ ongoing transfer strategy.
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