News of Hoops star Alistair Johnston on the verge of signing a bumper deal at Celtic is terrific business. The Canadian has been absolutely outstanding this season…
Bumper New Deal
According to Scott Burns via the Daily Record, Johnston whose contract expires in 2027 is set to be rewarded with an extension to his current deal.
Similarly to Matt O’Riley, it is perhaps unlikely that Johnston will stay in Glasgow’s East End for the remainder of his new deal, but it gives the club added protection if the inevitable happens and Johnston is targeted by a Premier League club. Hopefully that doesn’t happen and instead Celtic are able to build a team that can make their mark in European football.
He has become instrumental in Celtic’s success this season. Brendan Rodgers trusts Johnston as a leader within the group. This was evidenced by giving the right-back the captain’s armband at Fir Park following the absence of skipper Callum McGregor and vice-captain Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Johnston- Kuhn partnership is superb
Defensively sound, Johnston has also added goals to his game this campaign. Four league goals to his name so far this campaign, positioning himself in the right areas seems to be a familiar theme for Celtic’s reliable full-back.
Meanwhile, Johnston’s partnership down the right flank with reborn winger Nicolas Kuhn has been a revelation. Not only have domestic sides not been able to handle the pace and trickery of the two, but like we seen on Tuesday night against Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, the duo are flying in Europe’s elite club competition.
Excellent Champions League performances will only inflate Johnston’s price. The acquisition of the 26 year-old from Montreal by former Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou coming up for three years in January was a quite remarkable piece of recruitment.
An upgrade on Josip Juranovic
The difficulty of finding a replacement for someone of Josip Juranovic’s quality seemed as if it would be a troubling. But, the reality is Johnston has been an upgrade and then some. Possible recency bias could be creeping in but is there an argument that Johnston has been Celtic’s best right back of the 21st century?
A breakthrough in negotiations for a new contract extension just adds to the feel-good factor that is circulating around Celtic at this moment. Players want to be at Paradise, and no doubt playing double digit games in the Champions League plays a huge role in decision-making over new contracts.
Next up, Rugby Park
Johnston will most likely feature in his 17th appearance for the Hoops this Sunday as Celtic face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Johnston will then fly out to his home country as Canada gear up to play Suriname in the upcoming CONCAF Nations League quarter-finals.
Conor Spence
New podcast episode 🚨🎙️https://t.co/LVVpKQNMG8
Celtic author, Matt Corr, speaks about his latest book which covers Celtic in the 1930’s 🍀
Hear some brilliant facts and fascinating anecdotes from Matt by listening in full below ⤵️https://t.co/LVVpKQNMG8 pic.twitter.com/ay8MG3ZthD
— Celtic View (@CelticView) November 5, 2024
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![Celtic in the Thirties]()
- Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two by Matt Corr – out now on Celtic Star Books.
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![Celtic in the Thirties]()
- Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two by Matt Corr – out now on Celtic Star Books.
CELTIC IN THE THIRTIES, VOLUMES ONE & TWO BY MATT CORR – OUT NOW! Order your signed copies below…
