New Celtic striker Albian Ajeti eyes ‘perfect’ double act with Odsonne Edouard

£5m signing wants to play up front in a two

Albian Ajeti has joined Celtic on a four-year-deal. Picture: Craig Williamson / SNS

Celtic’s new striker Albian Ajeti believes that he and Odsonne Edouard “could be perfect together” in the club’s frontline.

The 23-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the Scottish champions following a £5 million move from West Ham United. It is understood an assurance he would be given the opportunity to establish a partnership with the Frenchman – Neil Lennon switching from the default 4-2-3-1 system to the 3-5-2 shape he successfully deployed in the closing months of last season – was pivotal in the Swiss international’s decision to move north.

“I have seen some goals and some games of him and I think me and him up top could be a good match. We could be perfect together,” said the former Basel forward of Edouard. “If you have two quality strikers, it’s always good for a team. Celtic play attractive football, they attack. We will both be in the box, always there where it can be dangerous. It is a good match. I might be a physically stronger striker than he is but I think it’s a good match.”

If linking up with Edouard is what Ajeti is preparing for, his immediate immersion in the nature of Glasgow footballing rivalry in Celtic’s quest for a historic ten-in-a-row titles means he isn’t expecting to hook up with one former team-mate.

Rangers’ recruitment of Cedric Itten ensures that the former strike pair from the youth side of the Swiss footballing powerhouse are now ensconced in the same city once more. But Ajeti doesn’t see that as a chance to re-ignite an old acquaintance. “We’ve been good friends in the academy but this is it, we are big rivals now. But this is football,” he said. “I don’t think [we will meet up].”