£15.3 million Brentford player on Everton radar
The latest news suggests that Everton is very interested in bringing in Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer from Brentford.
The move makes a lot of sense for the Toffees at the surface level. The team needs an upgrade at the defensive end and Ajer is coming off a great season. Ajer is an absolute monster on the pitch. He stands at a menacing six foot six inches tall which helps him win aerial balls and muscle the ball away from attackers. Yet, the young and physical defender will be far too expensive for the toffees to pursue.
Ajer has a contract till 2026 so Brentford are in no rush to even think about selling the defender. Ajer has a market value of £15.3 million but a lot more will be required to bring him to Goodison Park and that doesn’t even include his salary.
On the other hand, Everton is also targeting James Tarkowski, who is set to leave Burnley this summer. This would be a much cheaper option because of his expiring contract. The blues can sign Tarkowski as a “free transfer” instead of paying a big sum for Ajer.
Should Everton break the bank for Kristoffer Ajer?
The only way Ajer would be able to come to Everton is if Everton decide to splash a ridiculous amount of cash and make money by selling the likes of Yerry Mina and Michael Keane. Everton will be hoping to move either Keane or Mina and generate some cash that can be used to bring a more reliable and astute centre back.
Suppose Everton did end up breaking the bank for Ajer. The team would be getting a brick wall to serve as the last line of defence. Ajer is a great tackler and shot blocker but most impressively he has impressive passing and on the ball qualities for a centre back.
The Norwegian defender is a profile that Everton needs in their backline but his price will be a stumbling block. Instead, Tarkowski remains a much more favourable option. Even if he’s given a bumper contract of around £90,000 per week, this deal will be far more economical and give Everton a robust centre back.
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Where do you think Kristoffer Ajer will end up?