Celtic-bound defender Alistair Johnston featured for Canada as they were dumped out of the World Cup with a 4-1 defeat to Croatia.
The Bhoys are getting their January business sorted early.
Ange Postecoglou likes to work quickly and he already has one January signing secured in Yuki Kobayashi.
The Vissel Kobe defender will arrive in 2023 and it looks like Celtic are close to securing another signing too.
Celtic-bound Alistair Johnston now out of the World Cup
Celtic are keen to bring in a new right back with question marks over the long-term future of Josip Juranovic.
Reports last week suggested that Celtic were interested in signing CF Montreal defender Alistair Johnston.
The deal now appears close with Fabrizio Romano claiming that a verbal agreement has been struck with CF Montreal ahead of the January window.
A deal worth up to £3million is on the cards according to the Daily Record, with Celtic moving quickly to secure Johnston’s signature.
The 24-year-old has been a key part of an exciting and entertaining Canada side at the World Cup.
Johnston started in the 1-0 defeat to Belgium and in the 4-1 loss to Croatia on Sunday.
Canada gained a lot of new fans at this World Cup but no points so far, meaning they are already out of the competition.
Taking on top quality players from Belgium and Croatia was always going to be difficult but Johnston gave it his best shot.
The Canadian Premier League website gave Johnston a 6.5/10 rating against Croatia, feeling that he was ‘left scrambling’ because of John Herdman’s tactical setup.
Canada went with a 4-2-2-2 to open the game and were pushing Johnston forward despite him having to deal with Tottenham Hotspur winger Ivan Perisic.
That gave Johnston a lot to do but he ‘did his job reasonably well’ whilst noting that he is joining Celtic ‘soon’.
Sportsnet went a little higher, giving Johnston a 7/10 rating whilst suggesting that he ‘coped well’ against Perisic and Borna Sosa.
Johnston has largely been solid and effective in build-up play for Canada, which should lend itself to thriving under Postecoglou at Celtic.
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