Alistair Johnston bids are said to be imminent, as Everton step up their pursuit of the Canadian defender with a Celtic-like lowball offer…
The Canadian full-back has been garnering interest in his talents for some time now, with Fulham thought to be long-term admirers of the Hoops star . Now it seems that they are not alone in their admiration for a player who is fresh off the back of performing extremely well at a World Cup tournament this summer with his country in North America.
AJ an Ange Postecoglou signing
Johnston of course has been at the club since the January of 2023, when Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou moved to bring him to the Hoops after another really strong showing at a World Cup in Qatar.
After moving from CF Montreal in the American MLS league, AJ went on to replace departing Croatian internationalist Josip Juranovic at the time, who moved to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Alistair had as good a debut as we’ve seen in a powderkeg atmosphere at Ibrox stadium, when he was pitched in straight away and handled the intensity of the environment and flourished in the physical duels he was involved in on that day in Govan.
Alistair Johnston is a stalwart at Celtic
That was the key marker that showed everyone from the off that there was something about him and so it has proved these last four-years, as he has become a stalwart and integral part of successive and successful Celtic sides.
Stephen McGowan reports in The Herald though, that the Bhoys are anticipating imminent bids for the right-back from English Premier League side Everton, who are now light at the right-hand side of defence, with Seamus Coleman retiring from the game and interest in former Ibrox star Nathan Patterson growing too.
There’s some irony in David Moyes trying to lowball Celtic
David Moyes now appears set to target Celtic defender Alistair Johnston, who is said to be open to a move to England, should the correct opportunity arise.
The 27-year-old is contracted to Celtic until 2029 though and that means that the Scottish Premiership Champions should be demanding top dollar for one of their star men and experienced pros if we are going to entertain any sale.
£10m valuation for AJ is insulting
A fee above £10 million has been floated, but that would only buy one of Alistair Johnston’s legs and it should be booted into touch by the club immediately. The squad should be strengthened at this point, not weakened.
Celtic receiving a lowball offer for one of our top players has a certain irony to it. That aside Celtic are decent at getting good value for any outgoing transfers.
Yes, Daizen Maeda left for Ipswich Town last week for just £10m but he had just one year left on his contract and Celtic owed him his move after frustrating his exit plans last summer when Michael Nicholson had to pull his agreed move to Wolfsburg due to failings in the transfer market.
Celtic should be in no hurry to sell AJ
Alistair Johnston has three years left on his deal and Celtic should only consider a sale at an appropriate price and that should be double Everton’s lowball rumoured offer. Celtic should be in no rush to sell AJ this season, a point that Martin O’Neill should be making to the Board.
That only changes if there’s an offer they can’t refuse and the Everton valuation makes it very easy indeed for Celtic to say thanks, but no thanks.
Paul Gillespie
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6 Comments
3 years left on his deal.
Average full backs are transferred within that league for upwards of £50m.
We should be accepting no less than £30m. He is at the peak of his career and has consistently shown his quality in Europe and for his country.
I’d prefer him to stay but I am a realist. When the EPL comes calling, there isn’t a great deal we can do to stop it.
Michael Gannon in the Daily rag quotes 10 million+.Aye plus another 15 mate.Get real.What universe sre these English clubs on.Moyes should know better.
He joined in January 2023, not January 2022.
Bit of a non story this don’t ya think.
If any offer made is derisory then Celtic won’t accept it, the deal won’t get through and it will have been a complete waste of everybody’s time including in you’re own for reporting on something that you’d already made you’re minds up that wasn’t going to happen.
BSorry, AJ is great going forward but can panic if pushed when defending. I would always prefer Araujo, a better defender and good going forward. Take £10- £12m and ring Bournemouth.
Moyes giving us a taste of our own medicine.