The next Juranovic is the perfect player to fill Alistair Johnston’s void

The succession planning was perfect in Celtic‘s right-back department, with Ange Postecoglou moving from Josip Juranovic to Alistair Johnston so seamlessly.

A deal for the Canadian was wrapped up in December 2022, a month before Juranovic ultimately departed for Union Berlin, following a stunning 18-month stint in Glasgow.

Right from the word go, having been thrust into the derby on debut, Johnston has looked the part, as the Croatian did before him, emerging as such a central figure under a succession of managers now.

And yet, with injury and transfer speculation complicating matters this summer, what do Martin O’Neill and co do on that right flank before the deadline?

Celtic’s right-back conundrum amid Alistair Johnston uncertainty

One of a handful of key figures to have missed a chunk of last season through injury, Johnston did at least make a welcome return to the fold for the run-in, having been sorely missed in his absence.

In 2024/25, for instance, he had chalked up a remarkable tally of 14 goals and assists in the Premiership, while creating 15 ‘big chances’, proving such a creative weapon from right-back.

Unsurprisingly, other clubs have cottoned on to his quality, not least following another standout World Cup with Canada, the former CF Montreal star starting all five games at the tournament, boasting a stellar average of 1.8 key passes per game.

REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Everton have since come calling, yet David Moyes’ side have yet to meet Celtic’s £20m asking price, with the Hoops in no rush to sell amid the imminent exit of Arne Engels.

Whether the Toffees ramp up their interest may also depend on Johnston’s injury status, the experienced defender facing six weeks on the sidelines after coming off at the break against Kilmarnock.

REUTERS/Kirby Lee

O’Neill quipped that he will be out beyond the transfer deadline, but whether that actually puts paid to a move remains to be seen.

If he goes, relying on either Colby Donovan or Anthony Ralston feels like a gamble. If he stays, there may still be a need for short-term cover.

Any new signing is likely to have to play second fiddle when Johnston is fit and firing again, although bringing in a versatile addition may aid matters in that sense.

How Celtic could sign the next Josip Juranovic

What a week it has been at Parkhead, the Glasgow side following up their thumping win at Rugby Park by adding Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur to the mix, the pair joining for a combined fee of almost £16m.

Of course, Engels’ move to the London Stadium, alongside the news of Johnston’s injury set-back, has somewhat put a dampener on proceedings, with further depth and quality still needed.

Well, perhaps the Scottish champions could kill two birds in that sense with the signing of Niko Sigur, with Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph revealing that the 22-year-old is a ‘prime target’ for the Glasgow side.

The Hajduk Split star was said to have been a target during Wilfried Nancy’s brief reign back in January, yet no move was made at the time.

Now, with just two years left on his deal, the Canada international could be up for grabs for around £3m, with it said that he is keen on making the move to Celtic Park.

Like with the £3.5m signing of Johnston, or the £2.5m capture of Juranovic, bringing in Sigur for such a bargain price could be a real coup, with this seemingly the perfect signing for O’Neill to make.

Indeed, the key feature of Sigur’s game is his versatility, having lined up at right-back or central midfield for both club and country, looking so adept and comfortable in either role.

The similarity to that man Juranovic is easy to see, not least the Croatian’s prior links to Hajduk Split, having spent five years at the club before joining Celtic in 2021, following a brief stint at Legia Warsaw.

He only made 56 appearances in Scotland, yet made a lasting impression, such a classy operator be it at right-back, left-back, right midfield or even in central midfield, scoring six goals and registering three assists in total.

There’s a similar feel to Sigur’s game too, the youngster scoring and assisting three goals in Croatia last season, while boasting a stellar 90% pass accuracy rate, a clear sign of his quality and composure in possession.

In Juranovic’s solitary full season in Glasgow, he scored and assisted four Premiership goals, while averaging an 86% pass accuracy rate, perfectly fitting into Postecoglou’s attack-minded, front-foot side.

Out of possession, the now 30-year-old was an asset too, averaging 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game, alongside winning three duels per game on average.

Sigur, for comparison, is just ahead based on last season’s heroics, averaging 3.5 and five for those same two metrics, respectively.

For a potential fee of just £3m, bringing the Canadian to the club feels like a steal, as not only could he fill Johnston’s void at right-back, but he could also help to cover for the loss of Engels in midfield.

That kind of versatility, as was seen in Juranovic’s case, is the marker of a truly elite, dependable talent. Celtic could certainly do with another of those.