Alistair Johnston is to be monitored by “a lot of people” at this summer’s World Cup.
That’s according to Michael Gannon and Craig Swan, who both acknowledged that the Celtic man has plenty of admirers from before his long-term injury.
Johnston missed much of this season through a hamstring strain from which he has only recently recovered. Regardless, he is expected to play a big role at what is a home tournament for Canada.
The danger, according to Gannon, is that he attracts big-money bids for his performances.
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Michael Gannon: Bids could come in for Celtic’s Alistair Johnston after World Cup
Speaking on the Record Celtic Podcast, Gannon said: “The big danger, I think, is Alistair Johnston at the World Cup.
“Because if he has a good World Cup, he’s at his prime age.
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“He’s a year back because the injury this year set him back; I think he’d be gone by now if it wasn’t for his injury, or this summer.
“Do you sell him? Because if a big bid comes in for him, from somebody in England, which I think would absolutely be a no-brainer…
“After a good World Cup, I think there will be a big bid coming in for him. Do they need to sell him?”
Swan continued: “Johnston’s one that, listen Michael, we’re not daft, we know that he’s being looked at by a lot of people.
“People have been watching Alistair Johnston for a while, and they know how good he is, and they know what he is.
“He can play in a good level, he can play in the English Premier League. Because he has the athleticism, he has the power and he’s got the ability.
“So he’s going to be watched.”
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Will Alistair Johnston leave Celtic this summer?
Johnston indicated that he wanted to stay at Celtic last week by acting as a public agent for his brother in an attempt to get him a move to Scotland.
However, speaking earlier this season, Johnston was more coy on his Celtic future, leaving the door open for a potential switch to the Premier League.
There’s no denying Swan’s point that the full-back would be well-suited to the English game; he has been linked with several Premier League clubs already.
But there’s no denying that Johnston loves life in Glasgow and appreciates the honour of playing for a club as big as Celtic.
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