Stephen Welsh is backing ‘fantastic’ Celtic teammate Kristoffer Ajer to shine at the very highest level amid reports linking the giant defender with a move to Premier League outfit Newcastle United, as he told the Mail.
With Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie and 6ft 6ins Norway international Ajer due to become free agents in 2022, Celtic may have to preside over a colossal rebuilding project without three of their star players.
Edouard and Christie have been linked with the likes of Leicester, Arsenal and Burnley in recent weeks.
Ajer, meanwhile, appears to have admirers in all corners of the continent, though there is still a chance that the three-time Premiership champion could make the relatively short trip from Glasgow to Tyneside.
Steve Bruce’s Newcastle have identified the £10 million-rated Ajer as their number one central defensive target with Cameron Carter-Vickers, the Tottenham academy graduate who missed out on promotion on loan at Bournemouth, very much a back-up option (Echo).
Is Kristoffer Ajer heading to Newcastle United?
21-year-old Welsh formed a promising understanding with Ajer during the final few months of a difficult 2020/21 campaign, though it seems that partnership will be broken up before next season begins.
“Kris has been fantastic for the last four or five years – he’s been so good, especially when I came into the team,” Welsh explained.
“He has really helped me so much. Whatever happens, happens. But he’s a fantastic player and I’m sure he can play at the top level.
“Will he be hard to replace? You can say that about every player that goes from Celtic. We will find a way. He’s still a Celtic player, so I think we’ll be all right.
“Working together as a partnership, I thought we fitted in well together. He has done well. He’s a great character for the team day in, day out.
“He’s a bubbly guy. First and foremost, he’s a brilliant player and a good leader for the team.”
Breaking his silence last week, Ajer admitted that a move away from Parkhead would ‘probably’ come to fruition during the upcoming summer transfer window.
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