It seems one player who won’t be coming to Newcastle United this summer is Celtic centre-back Kristoffer Ajer.
As revealed this afternoon by The Telegraph’s John Percy, Brentford have agreed a deal of around £13.5m – a club record fee – to bring the Hoops star to West London.
The Athletic revealed earlier this month that the Norwegian had been one of our top summer targets, while The Chronicle reported back in June that we were trying to negotiate a deal at around the £6-£8m mark – due to the fact he’s out of contract next summer.
However, it seems Celtic have played hardball over his asking price and have now agreed a deal with the Bees:
We know that Mike Ashley is refusing to spend while he waits for the ongoing Saudi takeover saga to reach a conclusion, but it’s another sad sign of the times that we’re refusing to compete with newly promoted clubs.
Is £13.5m a lot to pay for a SPL player who was due to be out of contract next summer? Some will say yes, but you don’t get many 6ft 6′, ball-playing defenders with pace and Champions League experience for that price in this day and age.
He’s also just 23, meaning he would’ve fit into Mike Ashley’s buying policy, however talk of a £10m budget for Steve Bruce has coincided with Celtic refusing to let their star centre-back leave on the cheap, meaning this deal has felt less and less likely as the weeks have gone by.
A few Celtic fans I’ve spoken to say he isn’t great in the air for his height and is much better on the ball than he is at defending, but others have seen shades of Virgil Van Dijk in Ajer.
Considering Brentford could be relegation rivals this coming season, let’s hope he doesn’t perform anything like the latter!
Hardly the great big exciting move he would be looking for. I like Ajer he is a good player but no where near being worth 13.5 million. Celtic laughing all the way to the bank with this one if it comes off. I wish the lad every success but I think he will be found out in the English Premiership
Tony(Quote)
You literally sound like a moron, and a very very salty at that, seems you’ve been too depressed what with being a magpies fan to notice what brentford do to their players, they turn them from 2 mil players, to 35m players, you even admit hes good, and in the same sentence you think he’ll get found out? As a young player, you’d look at the 2 teams and think, where do I go to further my career? And out of the 2, it’s not going to be Newcastle is it? You’ve totally embarrassed yourself here, luke a little child who got told no.
Gumbo(Quote)
Can’t say I’m bothered one way.
Lots of talk about Carter-Vickers from Spurs too after Jones worked with him at B’mth – I’d rather go with a recommendation from someone who has worked with player personally
Sharpy17(Quote)
Watched him play for Celtic v Rangers and he was very poor. Out of position for first two goals and out muscled in the air against much smaller players. If he can’t cut it in the SPL then no chance in the Premier League.
One to avoid.
Malcolm A(Quote)
Brentfords scouting is renowned in football circles. Their DOF’s make very few mistakes. I’d trust their views on this lad over yours or anyone’s TBH.
Mike Williams(Quote)