Celtic are confident World Cup ace Alistair Johnston will be on the way after thrashing out a deal with Montreal FC worth up to £3m.
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.
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.
Johnston previously spoke of his pride at being linked with the Hoops as he dropped a major hint the deal was in the works before the weekend. He said: “It’s an honour just being linked with them, my phone’s been blowing up. To be linked with a club like Celtic is obviously something I think every footballer is excited by.
“It’s one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. It’s a club that even people who don’t follow football know who it is. I’m super excited to get linked to them. “But right now, the focus is just solely on the national team. Club things, that will get figured out once January hits.”
Juranovic has attracted attention from England and Spain since last summer and Celts are braced for concrete bids when the transfer window opens in January. The £2.5m signing from Legia Warsaw is understood to be in no hurry to leave but is keen to explore his options with a contract extension at Parkhead yet to be signed.
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