Celtic team-mate Joe Hart says Josip Juranovic is proving himself to be a ‘superb player’ at the Qatar World Cup amid claims that the Croatia star could follow in the goalkeepers’ footsteps at Premier League outfit West Ham United, speaking to Sky Sports.
Amid all the praise that has inevitably come the way of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic and penalty shootout hero Dominik Livakovic over in Qatar, it’s high time Juranovic got his moment in the sun.
The former Legia Warsaw man has been outstanding on the right-hand side of Zlatko Dalic’s defence. Juranovic was a constant menace during Croatia’s quarter-final victory over Brazil on Friday; flying down the flank and earning praise for his ‘outstanding’ display by BBC pundit Jermaine Jenas.
Jenas is not the only former England international with only positive things to say about Celtic’s all-action full-back either.
West Ham, Chelsea, Newcastle and Man United like Celtic’s Josip Juranovic
“He’s a great teammate. A superb player,” Hart said prior to Croatia’s World Cup semi-final clash with Argentina on Tuesday.
“(Juranovic) loves his country. I’m really pleased for him. He’s certainly earned the right to dream but they’ve got a tough task tonight and we’ll see what happens.
“It would be quite something (to see a team-mate win the World Cup). He’s way beyond the dream phase. He’s living it, he’s in a real moment.”
Hart spent the 2017/18 season at West Ham before kick-starting his career north of the border at Celtic. Juranovic could soon go in the other direction; 90Min reporting that the £15 million-rated defender is one of the names on David Moyes’ radar to replace the out-of-favour Vladimir Coufal at the London Stadium.
The Sunday Post (11th December, back page) add Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United to Juranovic’s growing list of admirers. Celtic, meanwhile, appear to have already signed a readymade replacement.
Canada international Alistair Johnston inked a long-term deal at Parkhead recently.
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