In a recent Q&A, The Athletic’s transfer guru David Ornstein (as quoted by The Daily Record) has shared an update on Celtic right fullback Alistair Johnston. The news would leave the Bhoys sweating as the Canadian has emerged as a transfer target for Fulham and Ipswich Town south of the border.
The 26-year-old Les Rouges international spent the youth years with Lakeshore SC, Aurora Youth SC, Richmond Hill SC, ANB Futbol and Vaughan SC before attending St John’s University. After two years with St. John’s Red Storm, Johnston joined Wake Forest’s college side, the Demon Deacons. There he switched from central midfield to right-back and soon flourished in his homeland with Vaughan Azzurri. He was eventually drafted by Nashville FC in the MLS, and then joined CF Montreal for $1m in December 2021.
After impressing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Celtic snapped him up to replace Josip Juranović who completed a transfer to Union Berlin soon after the Canadian’s Parkhead arrival. Although Anthony Ralston was there to slot in down the right, Johnston hit the ground running instantly having made 100 appearances already across competitions. With 6 goals and 18 assists, he has shown the attacking side of his game along with defensive composure.
The Celts suffered a late heartbreak against Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena, but their performance in the Champions League got accolades despite the elimination from the knock-out round. They are heading towards a domestic treble, and Johnston, having featured 38 times already so far this season, is grabbing the attention from the Premier League.
What’s Next For The Celtic Right-back
This could be the right time for Johnston to make the next career move, but he must assess all his options before deciding his future. Celtic would offer him assured European football, but the profile of Fulham is indeed fascinating given their rise and revamp under Marco Silva. While they have Kenny Tete and Timothy Castagne challenging each other down the right, the latter has primarily been the second-choice and has hardly made an impression amid the Dutchman’s injury absence.
Johnston is capable of replacing both of them in West London, but he must not opt for a switch to Ipswich as they are likely to go down in the Championship unless a magical turnaround in the remaining fixtures. It will be a step back in his career, and the Hoops should be able to convince him to stay at Parkhead beyond this season. Nevertheless, they have him under contract till the summer of 2029, and therefore, should make a significant financial profit on top of the €3.5m they paid to Montreal two years back.
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