Albian Ajeti transfer wait as Celtic striker sees Basel make signing stance clear

Firm Basel have told Celtic and their out-of-favour forward Albian Ajeti they won't break the bank to land a new striker.

The former West Ham star was a big player for Basel in two spells at the club before he won a big-money move to the Hammers and then onto Celtic in a £5 million deal in August 2020.

But his move has not worked out at Parkhead and he appears to be well down the pecking order under Ange Postecoglou and he last started a league game in September.

Basel are currently seven points behind Swiss League leaders FC Zurich and are desperate for new firepower after selling Arthur Cabral to Fiorentina.

Ajeti has been strongly linked at being his replacement in the Swiss media, but the club's sporting director Philipp Kaufmann has suggested there are financial obstacles in the way.

He said: "We have our own financial framework.

"We need a strong striker who attacks the deep spaces and we need to replace Arthur Cabral as a matter of urgency."