Celtic have agreed an improved deal to sell Kris Ajer to Premier League outfit Brentford, according to reports. The Telegraph’s John Percy took to social media claiming that Brentford have returned with an improved £13.5m deal that will also include add-ons to raise the figure even further. Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle and Norwich are believed to have made offers but no deals were forthcoming as Celtic held firm on their insistence on cash up-front for Ajer. Now, it appears that the deal will go through.
The player will now likely enter into negotiations over personal terms but you would expect that he will be keen to get the move over the line.
#BrentfordFC are close to signing #Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer for around £13.5m, in what will be a record deal for the Premier League club. Fee and structure of payments agreed
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) July 15, 2021
Kudos has to be paid to Dom McKay, who has held firm on Ajer as he looks to maximise the price of one of Celtic’s biggest assets. The new CEO will hope that the sale will allow the manager to pursue targets vigorously with cash at his disposal. Similarly, the deal for Starfelt being agreed means that Celtic wont be extorted by Rubin Kazan, who would know that we need to recruit ahead of the crucial weeks ahead.
Ajer joined Celtic from IK Start in 2016 for £500,000 as a midfielder; however, Brendan Rodgers retrained the youngster as a central defender and he went out on loan to prove his worth. He has enjoyed great success in the time that he has had at the club, being a pivotal part of the Quadruple Treble, even scoring the goal that sealed it against Hearts.
He will hopefully move on to new heights in the Premier League and the move represents good business from the club. Swedish Internationalist Starfelt appears set to replace Ajer in the heart of the Celtic defence but the club needs to reinvest the money wisely with the team appearing light on quality.
🇳🇴 | Kristoffer Ajer
After five years at Celtic Kristoffer Ajer is set to leave the club for PL side Brentford.
In his time at Celtic the Norwegian won 9⃣ domestic honours including a treble treble 👏🏼
Thank you & good luck Kris 🍀💚pic.twitter.com/mVK4R31vAQ
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) July 15, 2021
I'm not concerned about Ajer leaving, he has wanted away for a while and I wish him good luck. What I am concerned about is that we are critically short on quality and experience in this @CelticFC side. Ange must get the fee and be allowed to reinvest but no prospects please. HH pic.twitter.com/u7kRDGTgWI
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) July 15, 2021
Celtic getting 13.5 million from Brentford for Ajer would be a good bit of business. Unhappy player moved on with sizeable funds coming in for a rebuild.
I, for one, cannot wait to see who we don’t spend that money on.
— Dominik Diamond (@DominikDiamond) July 15, 2021
Reminder that Robertson went from Hull to Liverpool and VVD went from Southampton to Liverpool… Ajer going to Brentford is a calculated gamble on his part. One or two good seasons and he'll be on to bigger an better; he will be in *the* shop window now. pic.twitter.com/SB0xYyCK4t
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) July 15, 2021
Ange will get about a million of it and the bird will pocket the rest