JOHN HARTSON cost Celtic £6million when Martin O’Neill bought him from Coventry City in August 2001.
The former Welsh international goal hero cannot believe Croatia’s World Cup defender Josip Juranovic is being talked about as being worth £7million over 21 YEARS later.
It is almost certain the 27-year-old right-back has kicked his last ball for the champions following his bargain £2.5million arrival from Legia Warsaw in August 2021.
LAST KICK…Josip Juranovic looks to be heading for the Celtic exit.
Juranovic has already knocked back an enhanced contract offer from the Hoops, as CQN reported in mid-November.
He edged closer to leaving the club at the weekend when Ange Postecoglou left him on the substitutes’ bench in favour of new Bhoy Alistair Johnston who agreed a £3.5million move from MLS offer CF Montreal last month.
The 24-year-old Canadian made his debut only 24 hours after international clearance in the 2-2 derby draw at Ibrox last Monday and was given the nod to take his Parkhead bow in the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.
Juranovic came on for hamstring victim Greg Taylor after only 21 minutes in Govan, but endured a torrid time at left-back against the pacy Fashion Sakala. Alexandro Bernabei, the £3.75million recruit from Argentina in the summer, came straight in at No.3 against the Rugby Park club while Juranovic spent the afternoon among the stand-by squad.
Now the Croatian back-four operator is being linked with a £7million switch to Serie A side Monza – a transfer fee that is bewildering Hartson and the Celtic support.
NEW BHOY IN PARADISE…Alistair Johnston with the Celtic No.2 shirt.
Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea were reported to be in the hunt for Juranovic after his performances for his country in Qatar with prices of up to £25million being quoted.
Hartson reckons his old club should stand firm on their valuation as he compared the player to full-back Achraf Hakimi, who impressed for Morocco en route to the semi-final in the soccer showpiece.
The defender cost Paris Saint-Germain £64million when he joined from Inter Milan in the summer.
Looking at the Juranovic situation, Hartson, speaking to The Go Radio Football Show, said: “Last week we were talking about £20million. He was one of the best right-backs at the World Cup.
“Hakimi was fantastic. He’s at PSG, probably on £150,000 a week. He was great for Morocco. Juranovic was equally as good – and you are talking £7million. It’s unbelievable.
“I don’t know the structure of the deal, agents’ fees and blah, blah, blah. I would have thought at least double that.
“I’m shocked. I’ve listened to some of the comments on social media and Celtic fans can’t believe it.”
All will become clearer as the clock ticks down to the window closing at the end of the month, by which time Juranovic will probably be plying his trade elsewhere.
