CELTIC’S £5million misfiring frontman Albian Ajeti is on his way to Sturm Graz on a season-long loan
Ange Postecoglou had some kind things to say about the Swiss international striker who managed only nine goals in 47 first-team appearances since Neil Lennon bought him from West Ham in August 2020.
The Hoops gaffer, who watched the holders trounce Ross County 4-1 in the Premier Sports League Cup in Dingwall last night, said: “Albian was probably one of a number of players who got caught in between periods.
DOWN AND OUT…Albian Ajeti has agreed a season-long loan at Sturm Graz.
“They came in at a really difficult time for the club, through the Covid experience, as well. I can just imagine it would have been very hard for new players to settle in that time.
“Then I come along and we changed direction again.”
Postecoglou, speaking to Radio Scotland, added: “Albian’s a good player. He just needs an opportunity. My role in that is just to make sure they have an opportunity to play their football.
“Just because they don’t fit in here, doesn’t mean they can’t have a really strong career somewhere else.”
The Parkhead club, who will meet Motherwell at Fir Park in the next stage of the competition in October, confirmed the forward’s move to the Austrian side who have the option to buy at £2.1million.
HAMPDEN HERO…Christopher Jullien celebrates his League Cup winner in December 2019. Odsonne Edouard is about to join the festivities.
Ajeti, 25, who still has almost two years to run on a reported £18,000-per-week contract at the champions, was one of TEN players flagged up by CQN at the start of July who could be heading for the exit in a Celtic clear-out.
Christopher Jullien was another and, of course, he said au revoir to the club with a cut-price £850,000 move to Montpellier.
The popular French centre-back, beset by injury setbacks in the past 18 months, agreed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 side and made his debut at the weekened when won 7-0 at Brest, with his former Hoops team-mate Karamoko Dembele featuring as a late substitute for the home side.
Also on our list was Osaze Urhoghide who agreed a second temporary switch with KV Oostende. The 22-year-old defender arrived at Parkhead from Sheffield Wednesday last summer and spent the second half of the season with the Belgian Pro League side.
GROUNDED…Boli Bongoli blew his Celtic career and is back in Belgium with Mechelen.
Bungling Boli Bolingoli and rookie keeper Ross Doohan have also departed on permanent deals to Mechelen and Tranmere Rovers respectively while Ivorian midfielder Ismaila Soro has agreed a season-long temporary move to Portuguese top-flight outfit FC Arouca.
Nineteen-year-old Irish striker Johnny Kenny, who signed for the Hoops from in a £125,000 switch from Sligo Rovers in January, has moved to Championship outfit Queen’s Park for the rest of the term.
Only three remain of the names we mentioned could be on their travels in this transfer window – Mikey Johnston, Liam Shaw and Scott Robertson.
With the clock ticking down to the deadline at midnight, watch this space!
