Celtic manager Martin O'Neill issued an update on Alistair Johnston as Everton attempt to work on a deal for the right-back
Celtic's Alistair Johnston and (inset) Ridle Baku of RB Leipzig
Celtic's Alistair Johnston and (inset) Ridle Baku of RB Leipzig
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Celtic manager Martin O’Neill issued an update on Everton target Alistair Johnston after a Blues representative was in attendance at Parkhead to watch the right-back play in the Glasgow giants’ 1-0 win over Dundee on Monday as they opened the defence of their Scottish Premiership title.
The ECHO understands that Johnston has told Celtic that he wants to join Everton with O’Neill revealing in his pre-match press conference on Friday that David Moyes had telephoned to inform him that they were preparing a move. Despite Hill Dickinson Stadium chiefs continuing to try and work on a deal, the two clubs are yet to agree a price for the Canada World Cup star.
Ahead of the game on Monday, Celtic were drawn against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-off round with a home leg on August 19 and then a trip to Linz on August 25 as they look to avoid last year’s disappointment of missing out on the lucrative group stage of the competition. Bhoys’ top brass are reluctant to lose any of their star players before then unless their valuations are met or suitable replacements can be found.
Speaking to Sky Sports following Monday night’s game, O’Neill was asked now that he knows who his side are going to play in Europe, whether it was important to keep everyone together before the game or add more players to the squad. The 74-year-old said: “It would be nice to do both to tell you the truth, it would be really nice.
“Considering that there has been transfer speculation over Arne [Engels] and Ali, I thought they did fine in the game. I’m into this thing of getting attacking midfield players turning on the ball and driving forward with it.
“But Ali, it never bothered him at all and that was great. He said: ‘Yeah, I’ll play.’
“It is disconcerting at times when you think about it, and you’re worried about injury and all that type of stuff. But I’m hoping that it would be nice if all that transfer speculation went away, but I’m sure it probably won’t.
“It would be nice for it to go away and to get a few more players in, which we’re trying to do.”
The Athletic reports that Celtic’s valuation is expected to be around £15million, adding that Everton have explored other targets for the priority position, with RB Leipzig’s Germany international Ridle Baku another who has been considered.