![\"Scotland's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Greece-v-Scotland-UEFA-Nations-League-202425-League-AB-Play-offs-First-Leg.jpg\")
Scotland’s Max Johnston(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\nSometimes the best things are the most obvious and a move for this player would tick every box for Scotland\u2019s championsScotland’s Max Johnston(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n
Celtic are looking at right-back options.<\/p>\n
Surely, Max Johnston has to come into their thinking?<\/p>\n
Derby County<\/a> are already at an advanced stage to agree a deal for the Scottish international at just more than \u00a32.5million.<\/p>\n That sort of fee is not going to break the bank.<\/p>\n Surely his availability has to prick home interests?<\/p>\n Derby have tabled an offer and are looking to get a deal done, although a fee has still to be finalised and personal terms with Johnston agreed.<\/p>\n Okay, his wages would be high but surely it is a deal that would make a lot of sense for the champions.<\/p>\n I know Alastair Johnston is the first-choice right back and they have Anthony Ralston as back-up in that position as well.<\/p>\n AJ faces several weeks on the sidelines and long-term, the chances are that over the next season or two he is likely to be sold for big money.<\/p>\n Max Johnston would be more than the perfect long-term replacement and would offer a lot more going forward than Ralston and could also play forward one.<\/p>\n He has already got a winning mentality with Sturm Graz, having won titles and lifted a cup in Austria<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old has also played in the Champions League and in Europe.<\/p>\n Johnston would become an asset with a value that could only go up and he could go again for a bigger fee, which also falls into the Celtic player trading model.<\/p>\n Certainly, Brendan Rodgers has shown he can develop players and he could also take Johnston up another level or two.<\/p>\n He also fits the home-grown criteria for Europe and is proven in the Premiership via his spell coming through the ranks at Motherwell.<\/p>\n The move would tick a lot of boxes for Celtic.<\/p>\n He has also again been included in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifiers<\/a> against Denmark and Belarus.<\/p>\n Okay, it won\u2019t solve Rodgers\u2019 right back issue before Tuesday night\u2019s Champions League clash with Kairat.<\/p>\n Ralston would expect to start but the manager has also tinkered in training with the possibility of playing Arne Engels in there.<\/p>\n Young Colby Donovan\u2019s move to Dundee has also been put on hold because of the right back situation at Celtic<\/a>.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1_JS378324885.jpg\")
Celtic’s Alistair Johnston is placed on to a stretcher by medical staff after going down injured <\/p>\n