Everton have not completely abandoned their interest in Celtic defender Alistair Johnston despite talks over a potential move reaching an impasse.
The Canada international has been on the Toffees’ radar throughout the summer, although progress towards taking him to Merseyside appeared to have slowed in recent days.
A disagreement between the clubs over Johnston’s valuation has complicated negotiations, with Everton subsequently beginning to explore alternative options at right-back.
However, fresh reporting from The i Paper suggests the possibility of a deal remains alive.
Johnston is said to have been identified as a “priority target” by Everton, but discussions with Celtic encountered difficulties because of a £5 million difference in valuations.
The Premier League side are now considering other candidates, including Brooke Norton-Cuffy, although their pursuit of Johnston is described as “not totally dead”.
The latest transfer speculation comes after the 27-year-old was taken off at the interval during Celtic’s 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock.
His early withdrawal prompted some concern over his fitness, but assistant manager Shaun Maloney insisted the decision was made as a “precaution”.
“He felt something. That was just precautionary, we hope,” Maloney said.
“I thought the back four and the two in front, Callum and Engels, were really good. Hopefully he’s fine.”
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1 Comment
At present there is a potential injury concern, that complicates the future of AJ even more so imo?
The main issue surrounding AJ moving on, is around our CL qualification games imo?
If we are serious about wanting a CL campaign this season, then both AJ and Engels can’t be allowed to leave beforehand?
Yet how long are potential clubs prepared to wait upon such a situation in place?
Along with how the player’s themselves, are feeling about trapped in such a situation in operation?
Only highlights the complications that can be involved, all the while the transfer market is open?
Never been a fan of keeping unhappy players around, especially if there intentions are going to be elsewhere.
We seen the effects upon our team last season, and rather not see a repeat again this season imo?
Of course the fees involved, may well become an issue?
Moreso in ourselves letting player’s go for less than we would have thought?
But we don’t know what promises our club may have given, to player’s staying with ourselves either? Especially if and when interest comes from other clubs with better financial packages on offer?
Of course if a CL campaign is achieved, then we wouldn’t really want to lose both AJ and Engels, with the quality factor involved?
Losing both, with around the 40M figure involved, means we could be looking for the replacements, despite ourselves not going to pay the 40M involved for them?
Paying such amounts for players, wouldn’t fit into our wage structure whatsoever?
Yet we as supporters are looking and wanting at least the same quality factor, if not better, despite paying far less in value for the replacements?
All of this adds to the extra pressure upon MoN, with the decision making process involved?
Already know, that potential list of players are offered to MoN as both replacements as well as what he requires within our squad?
To much focus is upon Nicholson and his involvement in trying to get deals completed imo?
Still believe that the decision making process for MoN is far more important, especially with the amount of potential complications, involved in the decision making process in itself?
AJ and Engels are great examples of such situations at present, that develop during the transfer window imo?