CELTIC are about to jettison Swiss flop Albian Ajeti who cost £5million from West Ham in August 2020.
The frontman was brought in by Neil Lennon as the club’s most expensive summer recruit as they prepared for the historic assault on a tenth successive title.
Alas, Ajeti misfired and claimed a mere six goals as the champions toppled from their Premiership pinnacle in a season where they limped home without silverware for the first time in 11 years.
SWISS MISS…Albian Ajeti can’t hide his frustration as another chance is scorned.
Ange Postecoglou gave the 26-year-old international a chance to impress him after being named as Lennon’s successor in June 2021.
Ajeti continued to perplex and, after three strikes in 17 appearances, he played his last first-team game in the 3-2 Europa League win over Real Betis at Parkhead on December 9 that year.
After five months of action, Postecoglou had made up his mind about the forward who was sent on loan to Austrian outfit Sturm Graz at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. The flop frontman, who still has a year of a lucrative contract to run, didn’t convince during his temporary switch and has been sent back.
If some fans thought Ajeti didn’t get the opportunity to shine, then spare a thought for the Celtic striker who was heading for the exit – after only 27 DAYS.
COLE’S GOAL…the solitary effort claimed by Carlton Cole as he heads home against Stranraer at Stair Park.
That distinction fell to one-time England international forward Carlton Cole who was given the boot by Brendan Rodgers who made the quickfire decision to hand the player his P45.
The 33-year-old misfiring marksman scored only one goal in five appearances after Ronny Deila had signed him following his release in October 2015 from West Ham where he had spent nine years. His solitary strike came in a 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Stranraer at Stair Park in January 2016.
Rodgers had only been in the job 27 days when the seven times-capped forward was released eight months into his original two-year deal.
After getting the elbow from the Irishman, Cole had a brief and goalless stint in the States with Sacramento Republic where he played only four games before returning to the UK.
That was followed by a disastrous spell in Indonesia with Persib Bandung where he failed to score in five appearances and had his contract terminated.
Cole, who played for eight different clubs after starting his career at Chelsea in 2001, had a trial with AFC Wimbledon in January 2018 before announcing his retirement three months later.
