AJAX “HIJACK” DOLBERG CELTIC DEAL, OR DO THEY?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Transfer deadline day is here, and the usual madness has started a bit earlier than usual.
Much like the Borussia Monchengladbach story we dissected previously here on the ACSOM Blog, at time of writing (2pm Celtic Park Time on Monday September 1st) a similar story is being put around about Ajax supposedly being in for Kasper Dolberg, Celtic’s supposed number one transfer target
Ajax Intervention in Dolberg Celtic Move Possible, But Seems Unlikely
Now, the source in this case, Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph is, usually, quite reliable. So, I’m willing to go ahead and assume there is some element of truth in the idea that Ajax are interested in Kasper Dolberg.
However, there’s a few factors we need to consider here before we panic.
Firstly, unlike Celtic, Ajax don’t tend to leave their transfer business until the very last minute. They’ve made 3 signings each in excess of 10 million pounds already this summer. Two of them in forward positions: Winger/striker Raul Moro and Israeli international attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh.
Added to this, Ajax already have 3 strikers on their books, with Dutch International Wout Weghorst the clear 1st choice. Ajax typically only play with one forward and two wingers.
I doubt Kasper Dolberg would want to go to Ajax to be a back-up. However, as good as he would be for Celtic, I doubt he would displace Weghorst this season, even if, at 33, he is heading towards the twilight of his career.
Champions League football is the obvious draw that Ajax can offer over Celtic. But Dolberg would be the main man at Celtic. Of that there is no question. To become that at Ajax, he would need to displace one of the most consistent and popular players in their team.
I’ve saved the best for last though. Ajax’s main obstacle to getting Dolberg is that they will, in all likelihood only want a loan deal.
The whole reasoning behind Anderlecht letting their star striker go is that they need money, and they need it in this transfer window. Letting Dolberg go on loan would not provide the finance they need to secure his replacement, believed to be Genoa’s Portuguese striker Vitinha.
Dolberg might prefer Ajax over Celtic, and to be honest, if he saw how we played in our last two matches, I wouldn’t hold that against him. But this may well be out of his hands. Celtic are, at the moment the only club to have made it known that they want to sign the player on a permanent basis.
If Ajax come in and offer the 13 million Euros, that some in Belgium are speculating that Celtic have offered this morning to sign Dolberg permanently, then Celtic, most likely lose out.
But, as it stands for now, we remain the only club to have formally declared an interest in signing the player permanently. Until that changes, the ball remains in Celtic’s court.
A lot can happen between now and 11pm tonight CPT.
