Unless it is silly money- Chris Sutton’s Celtic transfer verdict

Chris Sutton believes that Celtic shouldn’t sell Alistair Johnston unless they are offered ‘silly money’.

So far the reports have suggested that offers from Everton vary between £10m, £12m and £15m.

Many Celtic fans consider those figures to be silly money. But a different type of silly money to the offers Sutton has in mind.

After missing a huge chunk of last season that required surgery on a hamstring injury Johnston has been in storming form since late Spring.

He played a key role as Celtic took the domestic double. There was no softly softly approach as he returned for the post split fixtures.

With barely a pause for breath he returned to Canada and played every minute of their five matches as they reached the last 16 of the World Cup.

Having demonstrated his fitness it would be a shock if EPL clubs weren’t looking at the Celtic defender.

But without Daizen Maeda and possibly Arne Engels. Johnston is more important than ever to Celtic. Especially this month with a Champions League Play Off looming.

Since joining Celtic in December 2022 Johnston has watched the guts of a team move off for higher wages.

THE CELTIC RECRUITMENT MODEL IS UNDER SCRUTINY

His signing allowed the club to sell Josip Juranovic. A few months later Carl Starfelt and Jota were sold.

Matt O’Riley left in August 2024, Kyogo Furuhashi in January 2025.

Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah were signed after Johnston, last summer both were sold with around £25m brought into the club.

Johnston turns 28 in October. After the World Cup his profile is unlikely to get higher. He has played in two World Cup Finals and two Champions League campaigns.

His attitude is perfectly suited to Celtic and Scottish football. At international and European level he finds an extra gear.

The Celtic board find it very difficult to turn down transfer bids.

It shouldn’t be too long before Sutton discovers if an offer of silly money is accepted for Johnston.