Noel Whelan has warned Josip Juranovic may take a backwards step from Celtic amid his behaviour concerns.
Juranovic’s future is unclear at Parkhead with no extension set on his current deal that expires in 2026 after talks between the club and the player broke down in November, leading to him becoming available in January, according to The Mail.
The Croatian is currently out in Qatar preparing for his country’s World Cup quarter-final clash where he’s already featured four times, completing every minute available so far as his club future takes a back seat.
There is now a concern from Whelan that all the time the 27-year-old’s future is a doubt, he could potentially become disruptive but told Football Insider that Juranovic should only consider a move to a “bigger club”.
“They are in a really healthy place but if a player is not happy and making noise in the changing room, that can disrupt everyone else. If a player is desperate and does not want to play for the club then there is no point in keeping them.
“No matter how big they are, what name they are, how long they have got on their contract. Once that starts happening it has got to be rectified as quickly as possible.
“To move from Celtic it has to be a bigger club otherwise it does not make sense and would be a backwards step,” Whelan said.
TIF Thoughts on Whelan’s comments…
Juranovic’s performances in the World Cup and featuring in every minute of Celtic’s Champions League campaign will have done his chances of a step up no harm.
But the Croatian could be playing a very risky game after Celtic announced the signing of Alistair Johnston a month before the transfer window, setting their stall out for the 27-year-old to react.
Johnston is a right-back by trade so could hold the key to any deal or step in Juranovic’s future, the SPL champion had played only twice in the last nine games in the league, perhaps over his failure to commit to the club, another right-back’s arrival could see him removed from the squad completely.