According to the Northern Echo, Bayer Leverkusen are increasingly confident of hijacking Newcastle United in the race for Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.
It’s claimed that Leverkusen have held talks with Ajer’s entourage, and now believe that he could be heading to Germany.
Leverkusen raided Celtic for right back Jeremie Frimpong in January, and seemingly feel that Ajer could join him in the Bundesliga.
Steve Bruce had been hoping to get Ajer to Newcastle before other teams joined the race, but now risks missing out.
This would really hurt Newcastle. The Mirror claimed over the weekend that Ajer would be the Magpies’ first summer signing in a £6million deal.
Everything was pointing towards Ajer heading to St James’ Park; the Daily Mail claimed in May that Ajer had his mind set on a move to Newcastle.
Tall, quick, capable on the ball and with bags of potential, the 23-year-old looked to be the ideal profile that Newcastle are seeking in the transfer market.
With just one year left on his Celtic deal too, Newcastle were eyeing up an absolute bargain for a player compared to Virgil van Dijk – but Leverkusen are now barging in to try and ruin Bruce’s plans.
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