West Brom are exploring a move for another Celtic player, after the Baggies were linked with striker Liel Abada.
West Brom look to be gearing up for a busy final week of the transfer window after a very subdued one so far.
Transfer links have been few and far between but after it was reported that the Baggies were keen on a loan move for Celtic striker Abada, it’s also been revealed that Carlos Corberan is keen on Abada’s teammate Mikey Johnston.
Daily Mail say that West Brom are ‘exploring a move’ for the 24-year-old attacker who’s scored two in eight Scottish Premiership outings so far this season.
West Brom targeting Celtic man Mikey Johnston
The Irish international is a product of the Celtic youth academy, having made his first-team debut in the 2016/17 season and racking up 90 total appearances so far, with 13 goals to his name.
He’s fallen out of favour since Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic Park, spending last season on loan with Portuguese side Guimaraes and having featured sporadically in the league upon his return to Scotland this season.
But he remains a prolific option off the bench for Rodgers, with his two league goals this season having come off the bench.
Johnston, who is under contract until 2026, is a left winger by trade, but he can also operate as a no.10 or as a right-sided player.
Johnston could be a better option than Liel Abada
Abada looks like an out and out striker. Whilst one of those may well be needed at The Hawthorns this month, Corberan often seems to prefer having versatile players like Johnston whom he can deploy in a number of roles.
Daryl Dike is steadily picking up match fitness and Corberan also has the ever-reliable Brandon Thomas-Asante to deploy up front, but options on the flanks seem a bit lighter with Matt Phillips sidelined and Jeremy Sarmiento having left at the start of the month.
So Johnston may be a better option for West Brom than his Celtic teammate Abada, especially with the Israeli striker having other suitors including Watford and Southampton, as well as teams in France and Germany.
Expect this to be another loan move given West Brom’s ongoing takeover situation, and also given the fact that Johnston is still under contract for another two years.
West Brom return to action vs Wolves in the FA Cup this weekend.