The dream of Julian Araujo making a permanent return to Celtic just got a major reality check, but hold up, it might not be dead after all. Word is, a direct permanent move for Araujo has been shot down. But here is the kicker: if someone makes a big enough offer for Alistair Johnston, that door for Araujo could swing wide open again. Talk about a plot twist!
Why Araujo’s Return Is So Complicated Right Now
Look, we all loved Julian Araujo last season, right? The Californian-born full-back was a huge hit after signing that short-term loan at the start of the year. He was out of favor at Bournemouth, but he absolutely owned the Scottish game. He was one of our biggest positives, even with that injury cutting his successful run short in the East End of Glasgow. Remember that last-gasp winner against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park? So vital, totally endeared him to all of us. The Mexican International, capped 16 times, is still locked in with Bournemouth until summer 2029, and those guys shelled out £8.5 million for him back in August 2024. They want that cash back, no doubt. Plus, we’ve got Alistair Johnston, Tony Ralston, and Colby Donovan all covering that right back spot. We are stacked there! And here is the real kicker: Araujo is reportedly on a massive £50,000 a week salary. That is a huge obstacle for any deal, plain and simple.
Alistair Johnston’s World Cup Performance Has Teams Watching
So, this is where it gets interesting. Our man Alistair Johnston is fully fit and fresh off an incredible performance for Canada at the World Cup, where they reached the last 16. Did you see him play? Powerful, outstanding athleticism, pure leadership. He absolutely caught the eye of more than a few admirers, you can bet on that. It is actually wild that there have been no transfer rumors surrounding AJ so far, honestly, it is surprising. If that stays the case, we’ll all be happy with the status quo at right back. Who wants to even think about AJ leaving Celtic? Nobody, that is who. But let’s be real, if a big enough bid comes in, we know how these things go. That money talks, unfortunately.
The Conditional Chaos for Celtic’s Right Back Spot
And that is exactly when a move for Julian Araujo would even be considered! It is totally conditional. It means we cannot officially rule out Araujo coming back, but only IF Johnston leaves AND Araujo is willing to take a slightly smaller remuneration. We are talking about a guy who would still be near the top end of Scottish football’s earners even with a pay cut. So, what is next for us? We are pretty much on Alistair Johnston watch now, hoping he stays put, but knowing his incredible World Cup performance could shake things up big time. This summer is going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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