Simon Phillips has told Give Me Sport that Chelsea owner Todd Boehly “already likes” Celtic star Josip Juranovic amid reports that West Ham and Newcastle want the defender after he helped his country reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Juranovic, 27, joined Celtic in the summer of 2021 from Legia Warsaw -clocking up 50 appearances for the Scottish Champions. In that time, he has helped his side win the League and League Cup – having a hand in 12 goals for Celtic.
That form has seen him become first choice on the right of Croatia’s defence. In Qatar, he started and finished six of Croatia’s seven games – remaining an unused sub for the third-place play-off. It has seen plenty of clubs eye a move.
Among those, include Newcastle and West Ham – according to The Sunday Post (back page, 11/12). Manchester United and Chelsea, too. Now, Phillips claims Boehly is already a big fan of Juranovic – who will cost £17m (Record).
“Chelsea’s new owners like him already and they know about him. When it comes to signing a back-up option or competition for Reece James, I do expect his name to come back up,” Phillips told Give Me Sport.
Chelsea owner Boehly already likes Celtic star Juranovic
What is Juranovic’s best move? He is clearly going to leave Celtic – with the Hoops already signing his replacement in the form of Alistair Johnston from MLS side Montreal Impact. So, where does he go next month?
Newcastle would be a poor move. Kieran Trippier is first choice and is getting better with age. Reece James is first choice for Chelsea. But a move to Manchester United or West Ham makes loads more sense for defender Juranovic.
United have Diego Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka – but neither are the long-term answer, even if Dalot is impressing. Wan-Bissaka is being linked with an exit. At West Ham, Vladimir Coufal is out of contract in June 2023.
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