Leading West Bromwich Albion into the Premier League next season, manager Slaven Bilic is not completely convinced with the squad at his disposal and one of latest names linked with a move to the club this summer is Celtic star Kristoffer Ajer.
A story from The Athletic claims that West Brom are looking at Ajer as an alternative to Brighton’s Shane Duffy, who is a priority target for the manager this summer.
He has a couple of years left on his current deal in Glasgow and is valued at around £20m.
But is Kristoffer Ajer the right man for West Brom?
Kristoffer Ajer And His Time At Celtic
The 22-year-old moved to Scotland for the first time in 2016 with Celtic and took time to impress, before cementing his place in the first team in the last couple of seasons.
Ajer has five goals and three assists in 133 games for Celtic across all competitions and is a crucial player for the club.
A centre-back by trait, Ajer is a strong presence in the box. He rarely loses a duel in the air, is confident with the ball at his feet and is adept at cutting off opposition passes into the final third.
He does give away needless fouls at times but he has a great understanding of the game and can even set up attacks with long balls from the back. At 22, he has already established himself in one of the more prestigious clubs in Europe and a move to the Premier League will be a progressive step for the youngster.
Ajer can also play at right-back, is effective in set-piece situations and is a player that will definitely make West Brom stronger next season.
Where Does He Fit In?
Bilic used Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley as the first choice centre-backs last season. Ahmed Hegazi acted as a backup when needed but in the Premier League, the manager will want a more secure backline in the upcoming season.
Hegazi and Bartley are both 29 and their experience will be of great help but neither player offers what Ajer can to West Brom next season.
Kristoffer Ajer is a better ball-playing defender than even Ajayi, who is expected to be first choice. Ajer is also adept at acting as a leader for the backline and could provide Bilic with a solid platform at the back to build his side next season.
The quality in the Premier League will surely be a huge test for the Baggies but if they can sign players like Ajer, West Brom could be a force to reckon with in the future.
However, Ajer’s reported price and Shane Duffy’s experience in the Premier League might make the Brighton man a better fit for the club. And Bilic will surely explore the possibility of signing Duffy even more before he moves onto the Celtic man.
Who do you think Bilic should sign for his backline this summer?