Albian Ajeti dealt Celtic transfer exit blow as Basel 'look elsewhere' after salary stumbling block

Celtic flop Albian Ajeti has reportedly been ruled out as a signing for FC Basel due to his wages.

The Swiss striker has struggled to hold down a regular spot in the starting line-up since signing from West Ham in the summer of 2020 for a bumper £4.5million fee.

Reports in Switzerland had stated that Basel were weighing up an approach for the striker with top scorer Arthur Cabral joining Fiorentina.

But Swiss outlet Basler Zeitung claim that the club are looking at other options as Ajeti's salary would not fit the club's financial model.

They state that he is "too expensive" for a permanent transfer and even if Celtic were to split the wages with a loan exit.

They state that Wladislav Supriaha, who is currently on loan at Dynamo Kyiv from Sampdoia, is now their top target on deadline day.

Ajeti was given a second chance under Ange Postecoglou making 17 appearances and netting three times this term.

But with Johnny Kenny and Daizen Maeda have arriving at Celtic Park this month, following Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis in the summer, which could see Ajeti drop to fifth-choice striker.

The 24-year-old has been hampered by injuries and has not made an appearance for the club since limping off in the Europa League dead rubber against Real Betis on December 9.