In an exclusive report, The Herald’s Stephen McGowan has revealed that Celtic are keeping close tabs on Elijah Just. They are flying high in the Premiership for Motherwell, thus drawing the attention of the Hoops scouts, who have monitored their progress throughout the season.
Although there’s been buzz surrounding Tawanda Maswanhise throughout the winter window, Just, the 21-year-old New Zealand international, remained under the radar despite firing 6 times and assisting 7 more in 25 league outings. The attacking pair have been the key architects behind Motherwell’s rise since Jens Berthel Askou’s appointment as the Fir Park boss, as the Danish chief used his contacts in Denmark to snap up the rumoured Celtic target, whom he signed at Horsens during his managerial tenure.
Rise In Denmark Across The Top Three Divisions
Just began his career in New Zealand with Western Suburbs before being roped in by Easter Suburbs. After a successful tenure back in the homeland, the young winger plied his trade in Denmark with then-third division outfit Helsingør. Having contributed to their promotion to the second tier, he was eventually snapped up by Horsens in the summer of 2022, following a couple of impressive campaigns in the Danish 1st Division.
Meanwhile, Askou failed to retain The Yellow Danger’s top-flight status by the end of the 2022-23 season. He left for Swedish outfit IFK Göteborg, but the All Whites star stayed with Horsens despite their relegation. Just spent the previous campaign on loan at SKN St. Pölten in the Austrian second division, and the Well, having him under contract till the summer of 2028 (including a one-year club option), are expected to maximise the profit if they let him depart in the summer window.
Why Celtic Must Undergo An Attacking Overhaul
Celtic are still in the mix for the title race, but the board have been heavily criticised by the fans and the pundits for their lack of transfer activity. They reacted late in the past two windows, but the majority of new arrivals have failed to deliver in their respective roles. The attacking recruitment, in particular, has failed miserably, with Joel Mvuka, Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka unlikely to be tied down on permanent terms, given their lack of impact since winter loans.
Kelechi Iheanacho, a Bosman signing back in the summer, has hardly featured due to persistent injury woes and, therefore, could be released upon his contract expiration in June. James Forrest is way past his prime, and so is Daizen Maeda, who has been a shadow of his former self high up the pitch.
Jota has been sidelined for a year, having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. Ange-Michel Balikwisha should also be offloaded, as neither Brendan Rodgers nor Martin O’Neill considered the wideman a part of their first-team plans. The Bhoys must undergo an attacking overhaul before next season, and Just’s emergence in Scottish football has now gained Celtic’s attention.
