Hoops legend Chris Sutton is backing Anthony Ralston and new recruit Alistair Johnston to fill the void created by Josip Juranovic’s potential January departure from Celtic, speaking to the Daily Record while tipping the Croatian to follow Giorgios Giakoumakis out the door.
With half the season remaining, January is hardly the ideal time for Celtic to lose to of their key players.
But, with Juranovic attracting interest and with Giorgios Giakoumakis’ contract talks running aground, at least Ange Postecoglou has plenty of time to prepare for life without two of his Premiership-winning lieutenants.
Celtic have seemingly brought in a replacement for Juranovic well ahead of time; agreeing a five-year deal with Canada international Johnstone on Saturday (BBC). The Canada international, who impressed at the Qatar World Cup, will join for around £3.5 million.
The club’s pursuit of ‘Giakoumakis 2.0’ is also very much underway; South Korea targetman Cho Gue-Sung and the exciting Said Hamulic two names on Celtic’s radar.
Alistair Johnston joins with Juranovic and Giakoumakis potentially leaving Celtic
“This is not a time for my old club to get weaker,” Sutton says.
“I’m fully aware of the chat from Postecoglou about the way he is going to evolve the squad. When he said at the club’s AGM that fans should not get too close to their heroes because regular movement in and out of the door would be a natural progression for them if they want to improve and get better in the Champions League, that was a signal to many, myself included, that individuals would be moving on in January and replaced.
“(Johnston) presumably opens an avenue for Josip Juranovic to go. Anthony Ralston’s excellent form would cover the departure of Juranovic. And give Johnston, much like Greg Taylor’s form did for Alexandro Bernabei, the chance to settle into the club. (Johnston will) not be rushed into the line-up immediately.
“With that in mind, Celtic fans have to believe that Postecoglou is well down the track with a striker and has an upgrade in the pipeline if Giakoumakis is going to be exiting the club.”
Giakoumakis is hardly a regular in Postecoglou’s starting XI but he is a valuable squad member. Not to mention an excellent option to bring off the bench; a veritable ‘Plan B’.
According to the Record, Giakoumakis is now ‘poised’ to leave in the New Year. He and Celtic remain far apart in negotiations over a new deal.
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