CELTIC target Alistair Johnston has revealed he would be up for a switch in the January transfer window.
The champions have been linked with a dramatic move for the Canada World Cup defender, as CQN reported yesterday.
Josip Juranovic, who has reportedly interested Manchester United, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid in recent times, looks to be heading for the Hoops exit which would leave Ange Postecoglou with Anthony Ralston as his only recognised right-back.
NO HOLDS BARRED…Alistair Johnston slides in to tackle Belgium’s Lois Openda in Canada’s 1-0 World Cup loss earlier this week.
Johnston, who joined MLS outfit CF Montreal for £800,000 from Nashville last December, now appears to be on the Parkhead gaffer’s radar, especially after the player’s impressive performance in their opening game in Qatar which they unluckily lost 1-0 to Belgium.
The versatile 24-year-old star has seen his value soar since his move and his club will now demand something in the region of £3.5million for the 31 times-capped international who signed a two-year deal with a two-year option in the summer.
Asked about the possibility of a switch at the turn of the year, Johnston replied: “There is only so much I can say right now, but if an opportunity arises, sure.
“I am really happy at Montreal and we have a great thing going, but at the same time I want to test myself and I want to see how high I can go.
“That’s something that for all athletes deep down is in our DNA.
HEADING OUT? Josip Juranovic is at the centre of mounting transfer speculation.
“You want to be competitive and push yourself to play against the best.
“We never want to look back at our career and have the ‘What if?’ question. I’ve nightmares thinking about that.”
Johnston, speaking in a report in the Scottish Sun, added: “I want to push the boundaries of what is physically capable for me.
“If that means going overseas, and trying to see what kind of level I can play at, then so be it.
“We will see how the World Cup goes and we will see what happens after that.”
Johnston’s mother is from Northern Ireland and he has a British passport, meaning no work permit would be required for a move to the champions.
Canada’s next two games in the soccer showpiece are against Croatia on Sunday and Morocco on Thursday.
