Just days after Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou admitted that Celtic had “a couple of transfers lined up” for the January window, it appears that his comments were absolutely true.
We of course already know the identity of one of these targets after Japanese centre back Yuki Kobayashi was announced just yesterday on a five year deal.
You can check out the cool-headed centre back in action here: Video: Check Out Celtic’s New Japanese Signing In Action – Champions 67
And Celtic fans have not had to wait long at all for the identity of the other target to be revealed.
There is a strong indication that Celtic’s Croatian international right-back Josip Juranovic will be moving on to pastures new after the World Cup, especially if he has an impressive tournament.
And it seems as though there is real substance to that theory, as Celtic appear to be looking to seal a move for another World Cup star, Canadian right-back Alistar Johnston, with latest reports claiming that negotiations for the transfer from his current teal Montreal in the MLS are at an “advanced stage”.
Johnston could be the ideal replacement for Juranovic, and at around 5ft11 in height and physically strong, could end up being a better player than Juranovic, defensively at least, which is an where many Celtic supporters feel Juranovic is weak in, particularly at Champions League level.
From the video below, Johnston looks very calm and composed and seems to read the game well and also has very good positional sense, another weakness that Juranovic has.
He also prides himself on his physical style of play, saying:
“I played hockey competitively in the winter and then soccer in the summer, and I was always known as a guy who loved to bodycheck and to hit guys. I’ve always loved the feeling of just laying someone out, as crazy as that sounds, and I just brought that attitude into soccer.”
“I love a good tackle to this day. Nothing gets me more excited [than] if I get clattered into by an opponent or I clatter into him and it’s clean and the guy starts pushing me back. That’s something I just love.”
That type of ‘take no prisoners’ attitude is definitely a trait that Celtic supporters will appreciate, and it is maybe one of the things missing in this current Celtic team.
Take a look at the video below to see Johnston in action.
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