Everton's Interest in Alistair Johnston Cools as Celtic Holds Firm

Everton’s pursuit of Alistair Johnston has stalled, with the Premier League club now turning their attention elsewhere after failing to meet Celtic’s valuation of the Canadian defender.

Martin O’Neill revealed earlier this summer that David Moyes had personally picked up the phone to register Everton’s interest, a clear sign the Merseyside club were serious about testing Celtic’s resolve. An offer was expected to follow. The negotiation never caught fire.

According to The Daily Record, Everton have now stepped back from Johnston and are exploring alternative defensive options, including Strasbourg’s Guela Doue, after talks over a fee hit a dead end.

Celtic, for their part, have not blinked. The Scottish champions are understood to want more than £15 million for Johnston and were in no rush to cash in, particularly with the crucial Champions League play-off against LASK on the horizon. The message was simple: not now, and not on the cheap.

Johnston, a key figure for club and country, is believed to be open to a move to the Premier League. Everton know that. It added a layer of intrigue to the negotiations, but not enough to break the impasse over price.

O’Neill, speaking about his conversations with the defender amid the noise from England, offered a glimpse into the player’s mindset.

“I've spoken to him on the back of the interest,” he said. “Again, it was one of those where Alistair is perfectly happy here at the football club.

“But like anything else, your head can get turned very quickly, particularly if it's a really good club.

“He wouldn't leave here for a second-class Premier League club, if there is such a thing, but if a big, big club comes in, it's something you would have to look at.

“And I think it's only natural as well. If I were a player, I'd be exactly the same.”

Those words cut to the heart of the situation. Johnston is settled at Celtic, but ambitious. Celtic are protective of a prized asset, but realistic about the lure of England’s top flight. Everton want quality, but within a structure that has little room for expensive gambles.

For now, the numbers don’t align. Celtic keep their right-back for a Champions League push. Everton look to France for answers.

The next time a “big, big club” calls for Alistair Johnston, the outcome may not be so easy to park.