A report in the Daily Record claims that Alistair Johnston will cost Celtic £3m with a deal with Montreal FC expected to be completed in the next few days.
That figure seems fair value for a full-back that is playing at the World Cup Finals, last summer Josip Juranovic was signed for a similar fee following the European Championships.
Yesterday the two defenders were in opposition with Juranovic coming out on top with Croatia on course for the knock-out phase and Canada out of the competition following a 4-1 defeat.
While the Johnston story develops at quite a rate there has been no serious reports on Juranovic moving on despite the assumption that the arrival is to cover for a departure.
The Daily Record reports:
Celts boss Ange Postecoglou has already lined up centre back Yuki Kobayashi from Vissel Kobe to check in on January 1 and Johnston is now set to join the Japanese star once formalities are completed in Scotland. The former Nashville SC product – who will pocket 10 percent of the transfer fee – will not face any work permit issues as he has a UK passport through his Northern Irish mother.
The Hoops are understood to have agreed terms with the MLS outfit for the promising full back – who has caught the eye with his displays in Qatar with Canada. The 24-year-old squared up with Celtic defender Josip Juranovic in Doha on Sunday, with the Croatian coming out on top in a 4-1 win. But Johnston has been tipped as a possible replacement for the right back – with Juranovic stalling over a new deal and expected to be on the move in January or at the end of the season.
Any transfer can’t be registered until January 1, whether the SFA are open for business on a public holiday remains to be seen.
Watching the derby action from the stand on January 2 is likely to be as close as any new signing will get but with successive matches against Kilmarnock, at Celtic Park and Hampden, those fixtures could be ear-marked to introduce new faces to Scottish football.
