According to The Athletic, Celtic are now playing hardball over a potential summer exit for Newcastle United target Kristoffer Ajer.
The same outlet reported last month that the giant centre-back was one of our top targets this summer, however it now seems we will be well and truly priced out of a move for the Norwegian.
After Norwich and Bayer Leverkusen had £10m bids rejected, The Athletic claim that Brentford had a £12m bid (plus £3m in add-ons) turned down over the weekend, with talks ‘collapsing’ because Celtic have slapped a new asking price of £20m on Ajer’s head.
Here’s a snippet from their latest piece on the defender’s future:
‘They have elected to play hardball over the fees for Kristoffer Ajer and Odsonne Edouard.
‘Celtic told clubs interested in Ajer he was available for £15 million after Norwich and Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen had £10 million bids rejected.
‘Brentford, promoted to next season’s Premier League with Norwich, tabled a bid of £12 million up-front plus £3 million in add-ons over the weekend, but Celtic then stated the defender’s new price was £20 million.
‘It is understood that talks have since collapsed.’
So, bad news for Brentford, Norwich and Newcastle United, as it seemed we were reluctant to pay £10m for a man entering the final 12 months of his deal – never mind £20m!
Mind you, at least the newly promoted pair are actually making bids for players.
Meanwhile at Newcastle, it’s hard to say what on earth we are doing. Is Lee Charnley still on furlough? Are we actually in the market for new signings or are we sitting with our arms crossed until a final decisions is made on the ongoing takeover saga?
Either way, we feel like a ghost club at present and have serious work to do with just four weeks to go until our first game of the new 2021/22 season.
£1.2 million and we would still haggle.
No chance!
Joseph(Quote)
It’s a joke pretending that the pric has rocketed. If it is genuinely set at £20m then it has come down. Newcastle’s attempts to low ball their bid is what you need to call out.
Celtic could only get £13m from Southampton plus sell on percentage for Virgil Van Djk. 2 years later he went for 6 times that amount, but he was already the finished article with CL experience at Celtic.
Ajer is not quite as good but he’s also a lot better thna what goes for £20m. In a terrible year for Celtic , he kept his performance levels up and is every inch the finished article. The fastest player at Celtic Park and can play RB, CB and DM. If you padi £20m you’ld be getting him cheap but don’t kid anyone about this price rocket thing. For some reason, unfathomable to me, Kris seems favourably didposed to come to Newcastle but does not want Norwich or Brentford. All you have to do is pay what he’s worth…….. If you have the money.
Like Virgil, he will be at a bigger club within 18 months anyway.
SFTB(Quote)
It will be the same as every Summer. Clubs will do business while we sit back and see what is left on the cutting room floor. We’ll then take the best of what’s left, just as long as they’re on a free transfer, or a loan signing. How is this new information to NUFC fans? It is our modus operandi. We’ve given new contracts or extensions to a few current squad members, ok fine, but so what? Very little will be forked out on new talent, and if you think we’ll be signing Willock as so many of us want – dream on.
Phil Prescott(Quote)