Kristoffer Ajer has told VG that Brentford was his clear first-choice club when assessing offers to leave Celtic this summer, despite persistent interest from Newcastle United.
The Norway defender left Parkhead after five seasons to join the Bees for £13.5m this July on a five-year contract. Thomas Frank has since started the 23-year-old in all three available Premier League fixtures since his arrival in west London.
Steve Bruce was determined to sign Ajer for Newcastle before the 24-cap enforcer sealed his Brentford switch. But The Athletic reported the Toon accepted they were likely to be priced out of a deal for their top-target.
Newcastle operated on a strict shoestring budget that ultimately saw Bruce miss out on Ajer and all other centre-back targets. The Magpies had extensively scouted the 6 ft 6 ace, whose agent was away of their interest for a number of months.
Ajer has confirmed he had a number of offers, likely including one from Newcastle, to leave Celtic before selecting Brentford. But the Bees were his clear first-choice destination, as the west London outfit give the best chance to develop under assistant coach Brian Riemer.
“I had a number of options in the transfer window that I had to consider,” Ajer said. “Brentford was the club I considered to be the one that could develop me best. I know that there are things I have to develop.”
He added: “I get help from [Denmark manager] Stale [Solbakken] and enormous help every single day from the coaches at Brentford and not least the assistant Brian, who has an enormous knowledge of the defensive. When I made the choice, Brentford was clearly the first-choice.”
Bruce to make-do at Newcastle after Brentford signed Ajer
Newcastle had time on their hands to strengthen Bruce’s backline after Ajer elected to leave Celtic for Brentford. But finances ultimately dictated their business, with Joe Willock and Santiago Munoz the only arrivals at St James’ Park.
Bruce now has to make-do with the same backline that fended off relegation last season, despite his ongoing concerns. Chronicle Live noted amid the Toon’s interest in loaning Axel Tuanzebe that Bruce longs for a more athletic type to play with a higher defensive line.
The United boss has never felt he has the pace in the legs on Tyneside to deploy his desired system. Ajer may not have solved that issue, but Bruce and Newcastle clearly liked what the Brentford arrival had to offer. Which will now be on show in west London this season.
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