AC Milan technical director, and Italian football legend, Paolo Maldini has confirmed that they are interested in signing Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.

In an interview with Sky Italia, the 52-year-old revealed that the Serie A giants are looking at the possibility of signing Ajer as they look for defensive reinforcements.

Maldini said:

Our biggest need is a central defender. We were not asked to finish in the top four, but to try. Milenkovic and Ajer? They could be among the names evaluated, but they are not the ones we are working on.

Whilst not a concrete declaration of offers on the horizon, it certainly acts as a name drop of interest in the Celtic man.

This continued interest will come as a blow for Hoops boss Neil Lennon who would have had high hopes of a quiet close to the window regarding his stars.

Ajer has been a revelation for the Scottish champions since arriving at Parkhead in 2016 from his homeland side Start.

Many would be realistic in the belief that perhaps at some point the talented defender would look for pastures new, however, Lennon and fans alike will have hoped it would not be at the start of what they hope will be a historic campaign.

Having shored up the defensive situation with the arrival of Shane Duffy, Lennon would be reticent to allow Ajer to leave, although the money could end up being too good to refuse.