Albian Ajeti's Celtic intentions revealed as flop striker turns down Parkhead exit chance amid bomb squad clearout

Albian Ajeti has reportedly rejected the chance to be paid up for the final year of his contract as the Celtic flop sticks it out at Parkhead.

The Hoops are looking to offload the 26-year-old former West Ham United frontman who was on loan at Sturm Graz last season but he signed a four-year deal back in 2020 when he moved to the east end of Glasgow in a £5 million deal from the Hammers.

Vasilis Barkas joined int he same summer and the misfit Greek goalkeeper was freed from his Parkhead hell when Celtic wrote off the £4.5m transfer fee they splashed out to AEK Athens after ripping up his contract. But the Scottish Daily Mail report that: “It's understood that Ajeti and his agent have so far rejected Celtic's offer to pay up a percentage of his remaining year - a la Vasilis Barkas - and, as things stand, he plans to sit tight.”

That presents Celtic with a problem for a player who almost certainly has no future at Celtic under new boss Brendan Rodgers (he has managed as the Treble winners look to clear out the deadwood and help free up wages. However, in Ajeti’s case it’s easier said to done and others are in a similar boat. Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy has a deal that runs until 2025 but made just five appearances last season.

And Ajeti and McCarthy lead a fairly lengthy list of fringe men Celtic would likely be happy to see head for the exit. Liam Shaw is reportedly set for a move to Wigan Athletic and he joined alongside Osaze Urhoghide from Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the Ange Postecoglou era with the latter on loan at Oostende last season.

Ismaila Soro was also sent out - to Portuguese outfit Arouca - and the Ivorian doesn’t look to have a future at Celtic. That’s why the job of the Hoops