Peter Grant is absolutely right about Elijah Just. Celtic should be considering a move for the Motherwell winger, and the sooner they act, the better.
The former Celtic midfielder did not hold back in his praise for the New Zealand international, and when you look at Just’s season, it is hard to argue with anything he said.
And Grant has told Celtic to get him signed, regardless of how Just performs in this summer’s World Cup.
Would Elijah Just be a good addition to the Celtic team?
Let us know in the comments.
Peter Grant’s Elijah Just verdict should catch Celtic’s attention
Just has caught the attention of Celtic in his breakout season at Motherwell and Grant is in no doubt about what his old club should do this summer.
Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Grant said, “Elijah Just, I like his performances from all over the season. He’s going to New Zealand to the World Cup. I’d sign him now.
“For me, he’s the closest I’ve seen since Ian Durrant running with the ball off that wee inside position. He’s the closest I’ve seen him running with the ball at his feet, but moves with it. He looks forward with it.
“He’s the closest I’ve seen. So I don’t care what he does in the World Cup. I would still sign him if I was a manager.
“That’s the sort of thing you have to do. You’ve got to take that. Listen, you know that’s your team.
“We can all pick good players, but can we afford them? Yes. He’s in that bracket.
“Well, let’s go and get him in if he’s going to make us better. That’s what players want.”
The comparison to Ian Durrant is not something to overlook. Grant is talking about a player who drives forward with intent, carries the ball with purpose and always looks to make something happen.
That kind of directness is something Celtic supporters have always appreciated, and it is something the current squad could use more of.
Elijah Just already looks like a smart Celtic market opportunity
Just finished the season with seven goals and seven assists for Motherwell while also helping New Zealand qualify for the World Cup.
Those are impressive numbers, especially considering he is playing in a side without Celtic’s attacking dominance every week.
Celtic have already been linked with Just, and when you look at both his output and likely price range, it is the type of move that makes sense for the club.
This is exactly the sort of deal Celtic should be proactive about. A player approaching his peak years, already producing in Scotland and still available at a reasonable price.
Grant’s point about timing matters too. If Just has a strong World Cup, both the valuation and competition will rise.
Celtic do not need to wait for the rest of the market to catch up. The opportunity is already there.
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