To say Celtic are in a spot of bother would be putting things lightly.
The Hoops are 21 points behind rivals Rangers and are seemingly sinking without a trace in the SPFL. Thus, change is surely needed.
On the chalkboard
One of the few bright sparks this season, though, has been Kristoffer Ajer. The Norwegian defender has been a lynchpin at the heart of the defence but unfortunately, his future could be in doubt.
His contract expires in the summer of 2022 and if Celtic can’t sort out a new deal, he will need to leave in the summer if the Hoops want to secure a fee for his services.
Both AC Milan and Nice have reportedly shown interest in the defender’s services so it wouldn’t be a great surprise if he did indeed depart from Glasgow.
Considering Ajer has missed just two league outings this term – both through self-isolation – it would be a bitter pill to swallow if he exits.
The solution
Celtic have already missed out on two of their defensive targets this month. Mark McKenzie joined Genk and Filip Benkovic went and signed on loan for OH Leuven in Belgium.
Though, one player on their radar is 6 foot 6 centre-back Declan Gallagher. The Motherwell defender is an imperious battler and if they can land the centre-half in January, it could well give Neil Lennon the excuse he needs to cash in on Ajer.
Gallagher, who has been capped seven times by Scotland, is 29 and would bring invaluable experience to a Celtic defence that has made some schoolboy errors this term.
You only need to look at Shane Duffy – someone who completed just 37% of his passes in the first half against Livingston and had a massive breakdown in communication with his defensive partner in the Scottish Cup final.
But why could Gallagher’s arrival allow the Bhoys to sell Ajer? Well, he’s better in the air than the Celtic defender and in terms of their tackling percentages, they’re incredibly alike.
The Motherwell skipped has won a mammoth 4.3 aerial duels per game in the SPFL this term. That’s compared to the 3.3 won by Ajer. The Norway international, meanwhile, wins 1.5 tackles per match – a tally that’s just 0.1 above Gallagher.
In terms of those statistics, the Scot certainly wouldn’t be a bad signing or replacement for Ajer.
A source previously told the Daily Record: “He is desperate to play for Celtic and in the current climate, he would be a brilliant signing.”
Considering the club’s plight, something like that cannot be ignored, especially with fears over Ajer’s future lingering. Gallagher would be a supreme addition to Celtic’s struggling backline.