Neil Lennon has been speaking to the media ahead of Celtic’s Europa League game against Riga, and AC Milan’s reported interest in Kristoffer Ajer was discussed.
According to Sky Italy, the Italian giants have the Norwegian defender on their list, along with Matija Nastasic and Nikola Milenković.
However, Lennon has moved to quash talk of an exit.
Speaking in his press conference, the ex-Bolton manager said: ‘Like I’ve said as always, there’s been no concrete offers, no confirmation of anything. And we don’t want to sell him. He’s in a good place mentally.
‘I spoke to him about it yesterday and I’m there as support for him.
‘It can sometimes be a very distracting situation he finds himself in. So he’s getting all the support he can from myself, the backroom team, and his team-mates.’
This sounds like excellent management from the Hoops boss.
Rather than outright deny the talk and sweep it under the rug, Lennon has addressed it but also addressed the impacts it can have on Ajer as a person.
That human touch can often get lost in the world of transfers, so it is good to see. It could also be enough to show Ajer that he is valued at Celtic Park, and the club care about his wellbeing despite a potential exit from Scotland.
The 22-year-old is a key member of the Bhoys’ squad, making eight appearances this season and 49 in all competitions last season.
Being linked with a European giant such as AC Milan is always going to be ‘distracting’ as Lennon mentions, so it is good to see an arm being put around the shoulder rather than anything that’ll make the situation worse.
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