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Celtic told they can replace exit-linked star seeking Premier League move with 'bigger concerns' in other areas Canadian international has reportedly informed club of his desire to seal Premier League transfer Celtic have been told they should have no issues replacing a full-back like Alistair Johnston because they currently have “bigger concerns” in other areas of the pitch. The Canadian international has reportedly informed the club he wants to pursue a move to the English Premier League before the summer transfer window closes, having starred for the Hoops since he joined in January 2023 under Ange Postecoglou. Johnstone has racked up 123 appearances for the Scottish champions, but his time in Glasgow appears to be coming to an end amid serious interest from Everton. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill revealed last week that Toffees manager David Moyes had contacted him to notify the club of their expected move to submit an offer for the 27-year-old right-back imminently. It’s claimed that Celtic don’t want to sell Johnston before next Wednesday’s Champions League play-off tie against LASK Linz, but they will seek upwards of £15m should they be pushed into a sale in the coming days. The Liverpool Echo reported on Thursday that Johnston has expressed a desire to take up the opportunity of playing down south, with Moyes identifying the player as a long-term replacement for club legend Seamus Coleman, who is in the latter stages of his career. But former Scotland international Pat Nevin has suggested that Celtic won’t have too much trouble finding a replacement for Johnston because he isn’t a star like fellow defender Kieran Tierney. Celtic told they can sign another player of Johnston’s ilk “I don’t think you can really hold a player back for a number of reasons,” Nevin told GlasgowWorld in partnership with BetTOM. “It’s hard to hold a player back from the Premier League. It really is hard, and in some ways it’s unfair if that opportunity is available to a player. “Also, Celtic have to be a selling club. They are wealthy in Scottish terms, but part of Celtic is bringing players in, making profits and selling on so they can continue to build. “Would Martin O’Neill be able to find somebody who could do as good a job? I suspect he will. I think he’ll be able to do that. “I don’t think Celtic fans will be completely devastated because they like him, but he isn’t the star like say Kieran Tierney. Can they get another player of that ilk? I think they can. “I think they’ve got bigger concerns in other areas, probably centre-back is most obvious. They’ve got a couple of centre-backs going out this summer and if Carter-Vickers gets injured again, that would be a real concern. They need cover there.”