If you were hoping that Everton’s perennial search for a right back was finally about to end with the addition of Celtic’s Alistair Johnston, then once again you will be left disappointed. The two sides have been talking for the best part of a month now, but Scottish paper Daily Record are reporting that the Toffees have walked away from negotiations with the Glaswegian side refusing to budge from their £15million valuation.
The fullback arrived from MLS side CF Montreal in January 2023 in a £3m deal,
and has made 122 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish champions. The Canadian international has 63 caps since making his debut in March 2021, and started every game for the cohosts of the just-ended FIFA World Cup where he was one of the better fullbacks in the competition ranking highly in most metrics.
Everton have not had a regular right back since the decline of former club captain Seamus Coleman, using a series of players to fill the role over the last half a dozen years. Last year saw centrehalf Jake O’Brien spend most of his time in the position while Nathan Patterson remains an outcast in David Moyes’ eyes.
Celtics boss Martin O’Neill has been clear that Everton are interested in Johnston, even going on to say that he had talked with Moyes on the phone about the player. He has also expressed that he would like to hold on to the fullback for at least the upcoming two-legged Champions League playoff against Austrian champions LASK at the end of the month.
From an Everton perspective, while it is embarrassing that they remain unable to find a Premier League calibre right back, it would be foolish to overspend for a player who turns 28 in a couple of months. The league have been quick to punish the Toffees for flouting spending rules, and getting into trouble with the new SCR/SSR (Squad Cost Ratio/Sustainability and Systemic Resilience) would be the last thing the Friedkin Group needs.
Playing hardball makes sense for now while over three weeks remain in the transfer window, and gives the Blues a chance to look at other players like France’s Guela Doue (who might be priced out of the Toffees’ range) and free agent and Senegal international Krepin Diatta. Should Celtic be eliminated from the Champions League and Everton still in need of a right back, the Scottish side might be a lot more willing to make a deal.
