Max Johnston has admitted even he has had to pinch himself as transfer interest from the English Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A rolls in.
They are just some of the clubs from top leagues around Europe who have the Scotland under-21 cap on their radar. The out-of-contract Motherwell full-back has caught the eyes of Bournemouth, Burnley, Luton Town, Augusburg and Torino, along with Portuguese giants Sporting and English Championship big hitters Norwich City.
The modest 19-year-old has held talks with several clubs and has now left things with his agent to finalise his next move over the next week or so. "I still don’t know what the future holds,” Johnston, who was training at CAA Base’s pro-elite pre-season training camp for their clients at Commando X-Fit in Hillington, claimed. There has been a lot of interest from clubs from the English Premier League and Championship, Portugal, Serie A and the Bundesliga. I have spoken with a few clubs and others have spoken with my agent. It has been mental so much so that I have tried to stay off social media but it is near impossible when my pals tag me into everything, when I have been linked with different teams.”
The main thing throughout his fledgling career has been about playing first-team football and Johnston has insisted that will be the deciding factor in his next destination.
He stated: “It has always been about playing football for me. Wherever I go next season I want to push on again. I want to get the highest level I can. I don’t want to go to a club and pick up a decent wage but having very little chance of first-team football. “I want to learn, develop and progress. I want to go to a club where I know if I can do well that I will get a run in the first-team. “I know you are never guaranteed to play but I want to give myself the best opportunity to do that. “It is then up to me to push and win a jersey.”
The good thing for the youngster is that he also has a decent sounding board in his dad, Allan Johnston. He left Hearts as a youngster and headed to French side Rennes. Now Johnston junior, who is currently learning Spanish, admitted he would be open to a move overseas.
Johnston admitted: “I was talking with my dad about things over the weekend. “It is good because he has done and been through a lot of what I am facing at the moment. “He was quite young when he went to France and so he has experienced that side of things and that helps. “He is always there to give me advice when I need it, which is great and important to me.”
The last season has been some rise for Johnston. He started as Motherwell’s third-choice right-back, went out to Cove Rangers and ended with him being named as the club’s and the Scottish Football Writers’ Association’s young player of the year.
”I was third choice because I had two Scotland internationals in Stephen O’Donnell and Paul McGinn in front of me,” he recalled. “I went to Cove at the start of the season and it was the best thing I did. “Playing under Jim McIntyre and Jimmy Boyle was good to me, gave me games and trusted me, when I wasn’t playing at Motherwell. “It was really beneficial and then Stevie Hammell took me back at a good time and I managed to do well when I got back to Motherwell.
“Stuart Kettlewell came in and turned it around and all the boys have turned it around as a team. “I was delighted to play so many games and to chip in with a few goals and assists and to make sure the team finished on a high. “So to cap it off by winning the Scottish Football Writers’ Association’s award and I also got the young player award at Motherwell was just amazing.”
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