Celtic told how to 'offset' Kieran Tierney transfer deal and secure immediate Arsenal agreement
Celtic continue to be linked with a move for Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney.
Arsenal star Kieran Tierney continues to be linked with a return to Celtic after his long-awaited return from injury. The left-back picked up a serious hamstring injury at the Euros last summer and missed around half of this season.
The left-back has been included in Arsenal squads since his return, with the Gunners having a number of absentees at full-back over recent weeks. But Tierney is out of contract at the end of this season, and he is not going to be getting an offer of a new deal.
That has led to Celtic beginning discussions over a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer, as they are now within their right to do. Meanwhile, there have also been claims that the Bhoys are seeking a loan deal until the end of the season, when a pre-contract would kick in, due to injury issues of their own at left-back.
Speaking to GoRadio via the Daily Record, former Scottish Premiership star Stephen McGinn said of the possible deal: “Celtic don't really have any right in the modern times to get him. Every top club wants two players for every position. Kieran Tierney has been available for a lot of games in the last few years. You are telling me a Man United wouldn't be interested in a Kieran Tierney and would pay more money for him just to be a squad player?
“Celtic aren't going to do anything mad financially and take risks, especially over the left back position. They have just made a profit on (Alexandro) Bernabei so it might be that behind the scenes, that offsets what the loan fee will be for Kieran Tierney."
He added: “Celtic would be getting Kieran Tierney for the love of the club and him wanting to come back. He has got a particular relationship with that section of the crowd that were singing about him. They totally bought into him and he bought into them so I think it was more of an excitement from that section in thinking he is coming back. I didn't really associate it with Greg Taylor. When it comes to the Champions League and big games, I just think he (Taylor) finds himself a bit wanting sometimes. He has stood the test and played a lot of games in the Scottish Premiership to be fair but I just think they will be wanting a better version of him. If you are going to let his contract run down or sell him, then you have got (Alex) Valle but he would obviously cost money to bring over from Barcelona."
Rodgers coy on Tierney deal
Celtic boss Rodgers was left unhappy with Celtic fans when they chanted Tierney’s name last week. “There was a few things that I may have overheard at the end there. That’s a total lack of respect. Of course there is,” said the Northern Irishman. “Greg Taylor, he’s been absolutely amazing at this club. How does he feel? He nearly breaks his nose, bleeding for the club, for a cause. It’s not very respectful. You sing for another player, no matter what Kieran’s history is. I don’t like that. There’s lots of speculation, lots of names, but I wouldn’t add anything to it.”
Rodgers had previously said of a possible Tierney deal: "Well, Kieran is someone I know really well but there's lots of players who have been linked with coming to Celtic. We will never speak about a player, especially a young player that's at another club. But we've got work to do, we know that. We want to improve the squad further in a number of key areas. But until that happens, the players here have been working so well. We'll just continue to work with them and see what happens in January."