Josh Doig rekindles Celtic transfer interest as Kristoffer Ajer return route emerges

Kieran Tierney is only just in the door at Celtic Park but Brendan Rodgers is wasting no time targeting another left-back.
The Hoops have bolstered their backline by clinching a sensational return for fans' favourite KT from Arsenal on a five-year deal.
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Tierney, 28, will be one of the first names on Celtic's team sheet as the Scotland international rejoins his boyhood club at his prime.
READ MORE: Lennon Miller cool on Celtic transfer interest as Sunderland join hunt for Motherwell sensation
READ MORE: Celtic eye 'bargain transfer for 16 goal Sweden star' but face three way tussle
However, the defender's injury record coupled with Greg Taylor's likely exit, means that Celts are in the market for cover.
And multiple reports have suggested that the Scottish champions are set to revive their interest in ex-Hibs starlet Josh Doig.
Doig, 23, left Easter Road for Serie A side Hellas Verona in a £3million transfer back in 2022 and instantly caught the eye in Italy.
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After a dream switch to Marseille collapsed at the 11th hour, Doig joined Sassuolo for £5m in January 2024 but couldn't save the club from relegation.
However, the full-back was a key figure in helping Sassuolo land promotion from Serie B at the first time of asking, making 31 appearances.
Doig has been on Celtic's transfer radar since he first broke through at Hibs and now, it's claimed that the Double-winners are weighing up an offer.
Ex-Celtic stopper Kristoffer Ajer -Credit:Getty Images
Meanwhile former Treble hero Kristoffer Ajer has been told to find another club by Norway manager Stale Solbakken, according to Sky Sports.
The towering stopper, 27, endured an injury-hit campaign for Brentford, starting just twice since the March international break.
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Under contract until 2028, Ajer may feel he'll be given a clean slate by his next boss as Thomas Frank prepares to take over Tottenham.
Ajer - who lifted nine major honours at Parkhead - left Celtic for the Bees in a £13.5m switch four years ago.
The 43-times capped star made his big career breakthrough under Rodgers and his potential availability has set tongues wagging amongst the green-and-white faithful.
Elsewhere, Record Sport understands Celtic are keeping close tabs on Lennon Miller's situation and were in contact with the Motherwell board in the last window.
The Scotland new boy has been linked with a list of European clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt and Royal Union St Gilloise and the Steelman have already turfed out bids from Udinese and Gilloise.
It's believed Celtic have also scouted Hearts' James Penrice, but won't necessarily pursue a deal for the left-back.

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New York Times

16 minutes ago

• New York Times

Diego Coppola, Brighton's new centre-back from Serie A: Here's what to expect

Before Brighton & Hove Albion's final home game of last season against new champions Liverpool, Fabian Hurzeler spoke about what he felt they needed to be shopping for in his second summer transfer window as head coach. 'The games just get more physical, more athletic, and that is where we have to take care also in our squad,' Hurzeler told reporters. 'No matter if it is someone in the last line — who might be full-back, centre-back — who has this physicality, or a No 6 (midfielder) who has this physicality. Advertisement 'It is not we have a lack in this or that position. It is more about: where do we get an add-on to our squad? Where do we see a potential player who can help us with physicality?' The recruitment department hope they have found that player with the signing of Diego Coppola from Verona of Italy's Serie A for €11million (£9.4m/$12.7m), on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old centre-half, 6ft 4in (193cm) tall, appears to epitomise Hurzeler's wish. Salvatore Bocchetti, who coached Coppola at Verona in their academy and as assistant manager of the first team, tells The Athletic: 'He is physically strong and reads the game very well, but he is also surprisingly quick for his size, a combination that makes him very effective defensively.' The chart below, which compares a player's performance in key metrics with their positional peers across the top five domestic leagues in Europe, gives a good idea of Coppola's strengths. He is a towering presence in the air (aerial volume and aerial success), but also effective on the floor when making challenges against dribblers (one-v-one defending). The low front-foot and back-foot defending metrics feel counterintuitive, but because Verona had so little of the ball last season while finishing 14th in 20-team Serie A (a league-worst 38.7 per cent), he was tasked with that responsibility more than most. Adjust for opportunity, and that effect dissipates slightly. Using data from Opta via Coppola made the most interceptions in Europe's top five leagues last season (72), ahead of Sevilla's Jose Angel Carmona, Patrick Mainka of Heidenheim (both 68) and West Ham United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka (66), which highlights his powers of anticipation. In possession, low returns for ball retention, pass progression and link-up play on The Athletic wheel chart above, with a high ranking for launched passes, reflect he was playing for a team who were more often than not under the cosh, losing 21 of their 38 league games and finishing with a minus-32 goal difference. They are all aspects of his game which are likely to improve at Brighton. Advertisement 'He is a strong player,' says Bocchetti, a former Italy international centre-back during a playing career which included spells with Milan (on loan from Russian side Spartak Moscow), Genoa and Verona. 'He is arriving in the best league in the world and joining a great club. I am sure, with his professional attitude and open mindset, that it will be easy for him to improve further. This is definitely a big step forward in his career.' Coppola built his reputation as a committed defender as he rose through the ranks of Verona's academy. He made his first-team debut in December 2021, shortly before his 18th birthday, and went on to make 85 appearances for the northern Italian club, scoring four goals. He was a regular last season, playing 34 times in the league as Verona successfully fought against relegation. He had two years remaining on his contract when Brighton, after negotiations about the structure of the package, concluded a deal last week. Coppola's signing coincides with a significant step up in his international career. He made his senior debut for Italy in the 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat away to Norway earlier this month. That tough baptism up against Erling Haaland and company, playing next to Inter's Alessandro Bastoni on the left of a back three, was followed three days later by a late substitute appearance as Luciano Spalletti's reign as head coach ended with a 2-0 home win against Moldova. Coppola switched quickly from the seniors to representing the under-21s in the age group's ongoing European Championship finals in Slovakia. He played a full part in Italy's last two group matches, a 1-0 win against the host nation and a 1-1 draw with Spain. Carmine Nunziata's youngsters qualified for the knockout phase as runners-up behind the Spanish and faced Germany in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Advertisement A hectic campaign came to a frustrating and exhausting conclusion for Coppola as Italy, reduced to nine men due to red cards for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto and Mattia Zanotti towards the end of normal time, lost 3-2 after extra time. Coppola was a commanding figure in the middle of Italy's back three in a goalless first half against opponents featuring his now Brighton team-mate Brajan Gruda on the right of Germany's attack. He demonstrated his defensive discipline twice to repel threatening situations by blocking shots inside his own penalty area. Booked 11 times for Verona last season, he was fortunate not to receive an early caution when he kicked the ball further away into touch twice in the same action — he would surely have been shown a yellow card in the Premier League. Coppola was disappointed with Nick Woltemade's equalising header in the 68th minute for Germany. He was beaten in the air from a corner by the 6ft 6ins Stuttgart centre-forward, the top scorer in the tournament with five goals. But he recovered from that setback and, with socks rolled down in extra-time, stood out in Italy's rearguard action with resilient defending and reserves of energy. He slumped to the ground inside the box when Nathaniel Brown struck in the 117th minute to give Germany victory. On the plus side, Coppola gets a few extra days to rest and recover before joining his Brighton team-mates in July for pre-season. Coppola is used to playing in different defensive setups. He played on the right of a back four and in the centre of a three for the under-21s in those group games. At Verona, he featured both as the central pivot in a three-man defence and in a four. That type of adaptability will surely be useful for Hurzeler. The move to the Premier League also provides Coppola with an opportunity to press his claims for further senior international recognition under Italy's new head coach Gennaro Gattuso as they try to qualify for next year's World Cup, having missed out in both 2018 and 2022. Hurzeler, returning to the theme of physicality in Coppola's signing announcement, said: 'He is still young, he is tall, strong and mobile, and he will give us a real physical presence.' Brighton saw off competition from among the big beasts of Italian football to sign Coppola. His move to the Premier League is not a surprise to Bocchetti. 'Some big Serie A clubs were also interested, but I think this is the best choice for him, and for Brighton too,' Bocchetti says. 'I'm very close to him, because I've seen him grow. I have nothing but good things to say about him. Advertisement 'Brighton have picked the right player, both on and off the pitch. He's humble, very professional and, despite being young, he already has a strong personality thanks to his experience in Serie A. I am confident he is already studying to improve his English. He is a very committed and focused person.'

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an hour ago

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Riley Gaines reacts to ‘phenom' Simone Biles deleting X after feud over transgender athletes

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NBC Sports

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