Should Brendan Rodgers promote the “outstanding” Celtic talent instead of signing a replacement for Dedryck Boyata?
“I’ll do everything I can to make it at Celtic. Ideally, I want to be in the team, so we will see how it goes.”
Those were the words of Celtic starlet Kristoffer Ajer, who told The Daily Record in June that he fully intends on making it at Parkhead following a loan spell with Kilmarnock last term.
The 19-year-old impressed in a centre-back role with the Rugby Park side and perhaps he could soon get the lucky break that he might’ve been hoping for this summer.
Dedryck Boyata was ruled out for three months on Friday and his absence gives manager Brendan Rodgers an awkard decision to make: buy a replacement or promote from within?
Speaking to The Glasgow Evening Times 12 months ago, Rodgers described the young Norwegian – who was signed by Ronny Deila – as an “outstanding prospect” and perhaps the Northern Irish boss is ready to use the teenager.
Celtic have a Champions League qualification tie with Linfield on the horizon and if Ajer is given chances to impress, and he does, then it could lead to Premiership opportunities.
Rodgers is great when it comes to working with young players and the former Liverpool and Swansea boss should focus his efforts on developing Ajer with a view to making him a prominent player instead of spending potentially millions on a replacement for Boyata.
The Belgian centre-back, alongside Jozo Simunovic, had emerged as a serious player under the 44-year-old, but hopefully for Celtic he has a hard time getting his spot back by virtue of Ajer.
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