Celtic will have to pay St Johnstone a record club fee to prise Ali McCann to Paradise from McDiarmid Park. Saints Chairman said that any clubs would need to surpass the record fee held by double-winning manager Callum Davidson if they are to sign the 21-year-old.
Blackburn signed Davidson back in 1998 for £1.75m and now Brown said to Radio Clyde that this fee will need to be broken if Irish youngster McCann is to leave the Scottish Cup and League Cup holders.
“There’s been a huge amount of interest in Ali. He’s been consistent over the last two seasons and is going away with Northern Ireland on international duty.
“He’s played against Italy in the last international break and he’s a class act.
“Our transfer record is £1.75million and Ali will not be leaving for any less than that.
“We don’t want players to leave when we have a successful team. Selling players is one thing but replacing them is another – it’s a huge challenge to get the same calibre of player back in.”
“If the right offer comes along and a player wants to leave, which is another thing you have to take into consideration, then we will sell.
“But it will be at a price we are happy with.”
Celtic have been linked with the energetic midfielder in recent weeks as they plan a rebuild in the summer. Eddie Howe is expected to be announced shortly but just one of the tasks likely to be on the manager’s desk is identifying a new central midfielder to replace Scott Brown. Tosh McKinlay has watched McCann as Celtic ponder a move and his performances for Davidson’s side will only help his chances of landing a dream move to Celtic. McCann could certainly provide an enormous amount of fight and drive to a Celtic midfield that has struggled this season.
