Newcastle United have reportedly stepped up their transfer bid to sign Kristoffer Ajer in the summer window.

The Lowdown: Newcastle have low budget

The St. James’ Park faithful are reportedly only going to have a mere £8-10m transfer budget to work with once the market opens.

Thus, they will need to be looking at bargain deals, and according to the Daily Record, Steve Bruce reckons that they can sign Ajer from Celtic for around £8m.

The Latest: Newcastle stepping up Ajer bid

As per the Daily Record, the North East club are stepping up their bid to sign Ajer, as Bruce looks to pip Norwich City to his signature early on in the window.

Both Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez are moving into the final year of their current contracts on Tyneside, and so a new central defender is needed.

Bruce has sent scouts up to Parkhead to watch Ajer play on a number of different occasions, and reckons that the Magpies can sign him for £8m, but the Hoops are looking for around double that.

However, they know that they may need to cash in on him with his deal running down in Glasgow, as Ajer and his representatives are currently assessing all options, including a potential move to the Premier League.

The Verdict: Newcastle must sign Ajer

The Toon must look to sign Ajer at all costs, especially if they can snap him up for a mere £8m, which would fit in nicely with their reported budget and promises to be an absolute bargain.

Described as an ‘outstanding’ player back in March by former NUFC ace Lee Clark, who managed him during a loan spell at Kilmarnock, the Norway international is surely ready to make the step up to the top flight, now aged 23.

Standing at a mammoth six-foot-six-inches tall, Ajer would have no problems at all in adapting to both the aerial and physical demands of the division, and at only now entering his prime, he certainly has a lot of potential still left to be fulfilled.

In other news, find out what ‘fascinating’ takeover insight a sports lawyer has dropped on arbitration here!