Celtic urged to swoop for Motherwell’s Elijah Just as new Stiliyan Petrov

Celtic have been urged to move quickly for Motherwell playmaker Elijah Just, with former Hoops striker Scott McDonald claiming the New Zealand international could become the club’s new Stiliyan Petrov. The 26-year-old has been watched by Parkhead scouts in recent months, with Martin O’Neill said to be an admirer.

Just has enjoyed a breakout year, capped by three goals for New Zealand at the World Cup, including a brace that made him the first Kiwi in history to score twice in a single match at the tournament. He is also among the nominees for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.

Record fee expected

Motherwell are expected to demand a club-record fee for the midfielder, one that would surpass the £4.7 million Udinese paid for Lennon Miller last summer. Several clubs are understood to be tracking Just, and McDonald believes Celtic cannot afford to hesitate.

Speaking to Record Sport, McDonald said: “Should Celtic push the button? Yes, absolutely. It’s someone who plays in the league already and has proven on the world stage he can do it as well now. So it’s not just at Motherwell. He’s gone to the next level. It might cost you a little bit more but look, this kid’s got talent to arrive in the right areas.”

Drawing comparisons with Celtic icon Stiliyan Petrov, McDonald added: “If you’re looking at it, I don’t like making comparisons, but the way he gets himself into the box from midfield positions, he’s definitely a lot like Stiliyan. The way that he can just arrive. He’s playing off Chris Wood in the World Cup and he just makes runs. Midfielders who make forward runs without the ball are an endangered species because everyone likes to have the ball at their feet.”

He continued: “But players that like to make runs in behind off the ball as midfielders, they’re worth their weight in gold and he does that really well. 15-goal contribution tells you everything, right? So for me, if Celtic miss out, he’s going to go big anyway. So absolutely Celtic should be looking at that.”

Iheanacho decision looms

Celtic are also said to be pursuing Qarabag forward Camilo Duran as a potential replacement for Kelechi Iheanacho, whose contract has expired. The Nigerian, 29, is keen to return to Parkhead after playing a key role in the club’s late-season Double triumph with decisive goals against Motherwell, Hibernian and Dundee, but he is yet to be offered fresh terms.

McDonald said he could understand the club’s caution given Iheanacho’s injury record. He said: “Am I surprised he’s not signed? I’m in two ways of thinking on that. There were a lot of injuries in that period he was at the club. Yes, he had that impact at the end of the season. He couldn’t start games though. So is that because the body is failing him? Or is that because he wasn’t fit enough? Going into a new season how much is he going to cost them a week to keep someone like that?”

He added: “His experience is second to none. It’s very difficult to go and buy that somewhere because of what he’s done and what he’s been involved in throughout his career. His upbringing at Manchester City under Pep. Moving to Leicester City. And then moving abroad. His calmness in pressurised situations. He lives for the pressurised moments. So it is a little bit surprising, I guess, in that sense. But again we just don’t know the full ends of how the body is and how much money he was going to cost them. That’s always what it’s going to come down to from a business perspective for the club and how the club looks at things. Not the emotion of what he’s just done in a four-week, five-week period coming off the bench for 30 minutes.”

Read more: Rangers land Dan Neil as Celtic and Hearts busy on transfer deadline day chase