If Alistair Johnston Leaves, Celtic Should Make One Call – Takehiro Tomiyasu

Martin O’Neill has admitted that Everton’s interest in Alistair Johnston is genuine.

Whether the Canadian ultimately leaves Celtic Park remains to be seen, but one thing is certain.

If he does go, Celtic cannot afford to panic.

They need to replace quality with quality.

And there may not be a better opportunity on the market than Takehiro Tomiyasu.

A Rare Opportunity

Players with genuine Premier League pedigree don’t often become available on a free transfer.

Players entering what should be the prime years of their career become available even less often.

Yet that is exactly where Tomiyasu finds himself.

At 27, the Japanese international has accumulated years of experience at the highest level, playing in Serie A, the Premier League and the Champions League.

If Celtic are serious about building a squad capable of competing in Europe, this is exactly the type of market opportunity they should be exploring.

More Than Just a Right-Back

The obvious attraction is replacing Johnston.

But Tomiyasu offers far more than that.

Standing at 6 ft 2 in, he brings a physical presence rarely associated with full-backs.

He’s comfortable defending one-on-one.

Strong in the air.

Excellent in possession.

Most importantly, he’s versatile.

He can play at right-back, left-back and in the centre of defence without looking out of place.

That flexibility would be invaluable across a season that includes domestic football, European competition and inevitable injuries.

Instead of signing two defenders, Celtic could potentially solve multiple problems with one player.

The Champions League Experience Celtic Want

One trend has emerged clearly from Celtic’s recruitment this summer.

The club appear to be placing greater emphasis on players with experience of performing on Europe’s biggest stage.

Kasper Høgh arrived having tested himself in the Champions League.

Camilo Durán also arrives with experience at a higher competitive level than many of Celtic’s recent recruits.

Tomiyasu would continue that philosophy.

He knows what it takes to compete against elite forwards.

He has played in some of the most demanding leagues in world football and just came back from the world cup with Japan.

For a Celtic side looking to bridge the gap in Europe, those experiences cannot be underestimated.

There Is a Risk

Of course, there is one obvious concern.

Fitness.

Tomiyasu’s quality has never really been questioned.

His availability has.

Injuries have interrupted large spells of his career and ultimately contributed to his departure from Arsenal.

That means Celtic would have to complete extensive medical assessments before considering any move.

But that is also why a player of his calibre is available without a transfer fee.

Every signing carries risk.

The question is whether the potential reward outweighs it.

An Ambitious Statement

Should Johnston leave for Everton, Celtic will undoubtedly receive a substantial transfer fee.

Supporters won’t simply judge the sale.

They’ll judge how the club reinvests the money.

Replacing one of the Premiership’s best full-backs with an unproven project signing would inevitably feel underwhelming.

Replacing him with an established international who has played in the Premier League and Champions League would send an entirely different message.

It would show that Martin O’Neill’s talk of adding proven quality isn’t just a soundbite.

It is a recruitment strategy.

Whether Tomiyasu is realistically attainable, only Celtic’s recruitment team will know.

But opportunities like this don’t come around very often.

If Alistair Johnston departs, Celtic should at least make the call.

Because sometimes the best signings aren’t the ones you’ve been scouting for months.

They’re the ones the market unexpectedly puts right in front of you.