Andy Halliday feared Elijah Just would get eaten alive by Scottish football when he first clapped eyes on the winger last summer. But now he reckons the New Zealander could help Motherwell gobble up a record transfer fee for the second year running.
World Cup Heroics Boost Value
Just became the first Motherwell star to score at a World Cup against Iran last week, and promptly followed up with a second goal in New Zealand's 2-2 draw. Former teammate Halliday reckons on that form his value can only keep soaring off the back of a stunning season for the Steelmen. Just picked up the player of the year award in his first year in claret and amber after scoring seven goals in 39 appearances.
Both Celtic and Rangers have been tentatively linked with the 26-year-old, who is under contract at Fir Park until next summer with the option of a further 12 months. But new Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson will be desperate for the chance to work with a talent Halliday saw as the most exciting in the Premiership last season. Halliday reckons it could take a fee in excess of the £4.7 million that saw Lennon Miller join Udinese last summer to prise Just away from Lanarkshire.
Halliday's Early Doubts Turned to Admiration
Halliday said: 'I thought Claudio Braga thoroughly deserved (PFA Scotland and SFWA) Player of the Year. He was excellent all season long. But my favourite player to watch was undoubtedly Elijah Just. When I first saw him I thought, “He's going to get eaten alive in Scottish football!” He's 5ft 6in, the size of my pinky, no real pace, no real power. But when your brain is faster than anybody else on the pitch you can make football look easy. And he's got the heart the size of a lion for somebody so small. His desire off the ball is fantastic. Before the World Cup, I didn't think it would have got to Lennon Miller fee type of numbers. But he scored a double in the first game of the World Cup. What can he do in the coming games? Motherwell will certainly be asking for a pretty penny for him.'
Halliday also highlighted that Motherwell have other sellable assets, including Tawanda Maswanhise, who finished top goal scorer in the league last season. He noted: 'Losing your manager is one thing, but when he's leaving a really strong squad with a lot of sellable assets it's great. They could lose them all, which will be difficult as well. Who do they replace those guys with?'
Johansson Steps Into Toughest Job
Halliday reckons former Rosenborg manager Johansson, 35, has stepped into the hardest job in the league replacing Jens Berthel Askou. But the former midfielder, who retired from football at the end of the season, reckons it's also one of the most exciting given the talent Askou has left behind. He said: 'Listen, I'm a Scottish football lover first and foremost so I'm really disappointed Jens is not in Scottish football anymore. Probably like a lot of people, I thought it was inevitable he was going to be the next Celtic manager. I thought, “Do you know what? At least we get to see him every week and what he brings to Scottish football”. It was obviously time for him to move on, but Motherwell are in a really good place at the minute. They've got a clear idea what they want next. It was quite promising under Michael Wimmer. He left on short notice and Jens came in. Obviously, it's going to be the same again. It's the hardest job to replace in the league, but I think he's left a really good squad there. They had a manager who had that style of play and tried to develop individuals as well as a team. How many sellable assets have Motherwell got on the pitch? They will get serious money for Elijah Just.'
* Andy Halliday was speaking on behalf of SPFL sponsors, William Hill, on the launch of the 2026/27 William Hill SPFL fixtures.
