Norwich City are now the most likely Premier League destination for Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer despite interest from Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United, as reported by The Athletic.
Derren Brown can sleep easy tonight.
A month ago, former Norway international Vidar Riseth predicted Ajer would be embarking on those trademark galloping runs at St James’ Park next season, turning defence into attack like some kind of black-and-white-striped stallion.
“I think he’ll end up at Newcastle,” Riseth said.
And, at the time, you can understand why Riseth was so confident.
Newcastle had identified the three-time Scottish Premiership champion as their number one central defensive target, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s forgotten man Cameron Carter-Vickers.
There has been little movement since then, however, with The Athletic claiming a trip from Glasgow to Tyneside looks increasingly unlikely.
Is Celtic ace Ajer heading to Norwich rather than Newcastle?
It is believed newly promoted Norwich have now overtaken Newcastle in the race to sign a 6ft 6in giant who is far more technically gifted and skilful than you’d expect from a centre-back of his size.
It’s far from a done deal, however.
The Glasgow Times, however, believes such a sum may be too rich for the Canaries.
Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig are interested too – and they aren’t exactly short of cash having brought in about £70 million via the sales of Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano to Liverpool and Bayern Munich respectively.
“He has everything. His potential is huge,” Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers said of Ajer during their time together in Glasgow.
“He’s big, quick, can play football. He’s a very bright boy as well. He knows there is still a lot of learning for him. He’s got this great hunger to get better, which I love in players.”
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