---
title: "Celtic: Alex McLeish heaps praise on defender Kristoffer Ajer"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-alex-mcleish-heaps-praise-on-defender-kristoffer-ajer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2020-10-18T15:00:20Z"
modified: "2020-10-18T15:00:20Z"
---

# Celtic: Alex McLeish heaps praise on defender Kristoffer Ajer

**[Celtic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premier/celtic/) have a lot of quality players in their team, one being defender [Kristoffer Ajer](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/kristoffer-ajer/). The defender has been attracting interest from [AC Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester City](https://sempremilan.com/reports-real-madrid-and-man-city-join-ac-milan-in-race-to-land-celtic-star), but he remains a Hoops player for the time being.**

He has received a lot of praise since arriving in Scotland and former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has heaped more praise on him lately as he was discussing the club.

### McLeish raves over defender Kristoffer Ajer

McLeish was speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/pundit-exclusive-celtic-have-the-new-virgil-van-dijk-on-their-hands/) when he said, “He’s been an influential player for them. I go back to that St Johnstone game, you see sometimes when it’s not going for Celtic and the game’s in its dying embers, and then all of a sudden you see Ajer striding up the pitch trying to inspire like Roy of the Rovers.

“Running from defence, augment the attack and then it leads to a goal – these are inspirational moments and he is an inspirational, influential player for Celtic.

“He mentions (interest) he’s getting from top Italian teams then it tells you how far Ajer has progressed in the game. Like Virgil van Dijk, he came to Celtic and we all know what happened next.”

### How Ajer has succeeded since joining Celtic

The interest he has received across Europe has seen the Hoops place a [£20 million](https://www.footballinsider247.com/celtic-star-ajer-plots-move-during-break/) price-tag on his head and until a club wants to pay this price, then Ajer will stay at the club.

This news bodes very well for Celtic as the [22-year-old](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/321085/Show/Kristoffer-Ajer) has started off the season very well at centre-back, especially in the league. In the Scottish top-flight, he has managed an average of 1.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.9 clearances each game, per [WhoScored.](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/321085/Show/Kristoffer-Ajer)

His age, quality and stats highlight that he is a crucial, influential asset for the club so it is understandable that they have put such a big price-tag on his head.

It is very interesting to see Ajer draw comparisons to Virgil van Dijk as well. The [Ballon d’Or runner-up](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/376000-virgil-van-dijk-ballon-dor-result#:~:text=Virgil%20van%20Dijk%20was%20named,in%20Paris%20on%20Monday%20night.) is well known with the Hoops as he made 115 appearances for the club and won three SPFL titles, per [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/virgil-van-dijk/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/139208). These comparisons are fair as he is following the same path as the Dutchman. Ajer has been solid for Celtic and is now making a name for himself and being noticed by other sides across Europe, just like [van Dijk did.](https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/virgil-van-dijk)

***Celtic fans, what are your thoughts on these comments? Let us know down below!***