---
title: "Celtic: Ajer close to £6m Newcastle move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-ajer-close-to-6m-newcastle-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-05-30T18:15:47Z"
modified: "2021-05-30T18:15:47Z"
---

# Celtic: Ajer close to £6m Newcastle move

**Newcastle United are thought to be closing in on signing Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.**

### The Lowdown: Newcastle’s previous interest

Ajer was first [linked](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9408377/Newcastle-United-ready-launch-8m-bid-Celtic-defender-Kristoffer-Ajer.html) with a move to St James’ Park back in March, with the 23-year-old setting his sights on a Premier League switch.

The towering defender was a regular for the Hoops during the 2020/21 season, making [46](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kristoffer-ajer/leistungsdaten/spieler/328658) appearances in all competitions.

Celtic signed Ajer for just [£540,000 in 2016](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kristoffer-ajer/transfers/spieler/328658), and it seems they will make a big profit this summer.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”359377″\]

### The Latest: Magpies close to landing Ajer

According to the [Sunday Mirror (30/05, pg 76)](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/), the [Norway international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kristoffer-ajer/leistungsdaten/spieler/328658) looks set to become Steve Bruce’s first signing of the summer window, with a deal reportedly costing Newcastle £6m.

The Magpies were thought to be [advancing with an £8m offer earlier this month](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9607991/Newcastle-United-boss-Steve-Bruce-revives-Leicester-City-midfielder-Hamza-Choudhury.html), despite the [Hoops wanting double that](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kris-ajer-celtic-transfer-test-24184318), so this latest update does appear to be slightly low on the valuation.

Nonetheless, it seems as if Newcastle have managed to knock £2m off the fee, with Ajer having just over [12 months remaining on his Celtic contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kristoffer-ajer/profil/spieler/328658), which is thought to be worth around [£14,000-a-week](https://salarysport.com/football/scottish-premiership/celtic/).

[Celtic updates](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-4/)

### The Verdict: Postecoglou to face an early problem?

Celtic are [hoping to conclude a deal for Ange Postecoglou next week](https://twitter.com/AnthonyRJoseph/status/1398764618173108230) after talks with Eddie Howe [collapsed](https://twitter.com/mcgowan_stephen/status/1398278383390363655) on Friday, so the 55-year-old could be faced with an early problem as Hoops boss.

Should Ajer depart, Postecoglou would be left with Stephen Welsh as the [club’s only recognised fit centre-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/kader/verein/371/saison_id/2020), with [Christopher Jullien currently sidelined through injury](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chris-jullien-injury-bombshell-celtic-23251380).

The versatile [Nir Bitton could fill in if required](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdaten/spieler/129788), but having a lack of central defensive options ahead of Champions League qualifiers in July may not be ideal.

Postecoglou will surely now identify a new centre-back as a key area to strengthen, so Hoops fans may well be in for a busy summer.

***In other news: Celtic closing in on landing director of football, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-hoops-closing-in-on-fergal-harkin/).***