Oxford United are hoping to bring in around £2 million for Rob Atkinson, although takeover talks are complicating the future of the reported Celtic and Bristol City transfer target, as reported by Bristol Live.
The seemingly imminent departure of Kristoffer Ajer – the Norwegian centre-back is unlikely to sign a new contract and has interest from clubs in England and Germany – Ange Postecoglou could be about to lose his best defender just weeks after taking the Celtic job.
Talk about being thrown in at the deep end.
Finding someone capable of replicating Ajer’s expert positional sense and trademark forward forays will not be easy, especially when you consider that the versatile, three-time Scottish Premiership winner gave Celtic options in a number of different positions and tactical systems.
Atkinson, at least, is a centre-back in the same mould.
Can Rob Atkinson replace Kristoffer Ajer at Celtic?
The 22-year-old caught the eye with his ball-playing style at Oxford and, as a result, The U’s are demanding a fee similar to the one QPR paid for club captain Rob Dickie this time last summer.
Bristol Live claim that Nigel Pearson’s Bristol City side have made an opening bid of £1.4 million – one that is likely to be rejected.
Furthermore, with Oxford in the midst of a potential takeover, everything is up in the air right now.
According to the Telegraph, former Inter Milan owner Erik Thohir is involved in a consortium that would see a group of Indonesian investors take majority control of the League One outfit.
You’d think that Thohir and co would want to make a statement and retain the services of Atkinson – in the face of clubs higher up the footballing ladder – would show that Oxford’s prospective new owners mean business.
Celtic were also linked with another ball-playing centre-back – one who had been compared to former Hoops hero Virgil van Dijk.
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