Kristoffer Ajer reckons he’s had his best ever season at Celtic.
But the Norwegian defender has refused to comment on his future or suggestions from his international manager Stale Solbakken that he needs to get out of Glasgow to improve.
Ajer is back with his national team for the last gathering before the final clutch of club games including the conclusion of the Premiership.
Celtic need to win the delayed Scottish Cup to avoid a blank campaign in terms of silverware.
However, while accepting it’s tough to assess his personal situation when it’s all about the team, Ajer does feel he’s played his best in the five years since moving to Parkhead.
He said: “When you play for Celtic and the expectations are that you will win trophies, it is difficult to focus on individual achievements.
“But if I am only to look at my performances, it may have been my best season at the club.
“At least that is the year I have developed the most. Where I feel I have taken the biggest step is that I make wiser choices defensively.
“I used time to go through all the clips and all the matches I had played that [last] season. I wanted to see what I needed to get better at.
“Then I discovered that there was something I had to improve. I could get too hot. You gain very little by throwing yourself down very early. With the speed I have, it is very rare that I need to throw myself into situations.
“Now I stand on my feet more often and make better choices.
“It’s better in the long run. It has made me feel more in control. I feel I have taken great strides and it is probably clear from the statistics that I cope less now than I did last year.”
Ajer is moving into the final year of his current contract at Parkhead and will attract big interest in the summer.
Solbakken insists the stopper has to transfer to develop after he said: “He has to change league now. He must. He does not have enough challenges. I think that would be a smart move by him.
“He should go to one of the five major leagues. He has the prerequisites to play in all those leagues.”
Solbakken’s backroom staff member Brede Hangeland added: “If you are going to develop, you must be challenged as often as possible.
“In some matches he plays in Scotland, he looks like a senior who plays at junior level.
“It’s of course because he’s good, but he needs to be challenged more. If I were him, I would try to get to a higher level.”
