The Toffees eye a gritty Canadian international to solve their right-back woes, weighing his elite leadership and Champions League pedigree against a worrying history of injuries.
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Everton are now in talks to sign Celtic defender Alistair Johnston, and we've done some digging to find out a little more about the Canadian international.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill recently confirmed that David Moyes and Everton had made contact with the Scottish club over a potential move, but he was unsure how far along a deal was.
Everton appear to have identified Johnston as their main target to strengthen the right-back position, but it's so far unclear how much Celtic are going to demand for the 27-year-old.
To find out a little bit more about Johnston, we spoke to our friends over at the Celtic Roundtable page to get the lowdown!
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The lowdown on Celtic defender Alistair Johnston
Speaking to Celtic's Roundtable representative Sourav Mahanty, we first discussed whether Johnston is a player who is capable of making the step up to the Premier League.
"On paper, Alistair Johnston looks good enough for the Premier League. He was a standout for Canada at the World Cup. And even in the Champions League, he has not looked out of place."
Johnston has been a regular for Celtic in all competitions, when fit, and started every single game at the most recent World Cup for Canada.
When discussing the profile of Johnston, Sourav labelled him an 'all-rounder'. Someone who is capable of playing in a possession-based side but also excels in a backs-against-the-wall style.
"Johnston to me is an all-round option. He is good enough to play in a possession-based team but has no problems if the going gets tough either and there is a need to sit back and defend. Also, he has immense leadership qualities, which could help Everton. The only issue is his injury history. For the past few years, he has picked up injuries regularly and spend significant time out on the sidelines."
Johnston's leadership and passion is something that Sourav believes Everton fans will buy into. That side of his game would certainly be an attraction to someone like David Moyes, especially with Seamus Coleman heading through the exit door in the summer.
"If you ask me, he is someone who gets the fans on their side. Do not be surprised to see a sliding tackle against Liverpool, followed by him pumping up the Everton fans. That is just the kind of character he is. If they can sign him, he would be an asset in more ways than one."
Touching on a potential fee for Johnston, it's all a little up in the air at the moment. Celtic recently sold Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town for a fee in the region of £10m, so Sourav believes that could be in and around the benchmark that the Scottish club might charge.
"It is hard to predict but Celtic have let Daizen Maeda, the club's best player, leave for £10 million. So, that could be the benchmark."
Of course, Maeda only had one-year remaining on his contract, which may have impacted his value. Johnston still has three years remaining, but with the Canadian international keen on a move to Everton, it might have an impact on how tough Celtic's stance is.
Speaking on the potential reasonings behind Johnston's failure to secure a move to a top-five league in his career so far, Sourav references his upbringing through the American college system.
"He came through the American college system and was playing there until his early 20s. So, that simply does not feel like a pipeline which helps players break through early unless you are an exceptional talent."
Everton have done well to negotiate fees for Tyrique George and Hayden Hackney in the summer transfer window so far, so hopefully they'll be able to do so once again with Johnston.
As mentioned in my previous analysis piece on the Celtic right-back, a deal for Johnston could make sense at the right price, and that could dictate fans' perception of the potential signing this summer.
The Toffees are scouting the Canadian international to solve their defensive woes, but questions remain over whether the Celtic standout can bridge the gap from Glasgow to Merseyside.roundtable.ioEverton Eyeing Alistair Johnston: Player Analysis
The Toffees are scouting the Canadian international to solve their defensive woes, but questions remain over whether the Celtic standout can bridge the gap from Glasgow to Merseyside.