Kieran Tierney is the name on every Celtic fan’s lips after reports started to surface regarding a potential return to Parkhead for the former Hoops defender.
Brendan Rodgers could be set for a busy transfer window next month, with movement expected to occur in both directions.
Yesterday, news that Celtic are interested in bringing Kieran Tierney in at left-back made waves in Scottish football after Arsenal decided not to trigger his one-year extension clause, leaving him set to become a free agent in the summer.
Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney of Celtic are seen during the UEFA Champions League Qualifier between Celtic and Alashkert FC at Celtic Park on...
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
The Scotland international is open to taking a significant pay cut to join the Bhoys, but it remains to be seen if rival suitors will emerge to land the 27-year-old.
His legacy at Parkhead is one of unfinished business. Tierney won eight trophies after breaking through at Celtic and registered eight goals and 37 assists in 170 appearances. However, there has always been a suspicion he would return to finish what he started.
Reviewing his time south of the border, Paul McGinn has shared why he thinks the Lennoxtown graduate has been slightly hard done by at the Emirates.
Paul McGinn on Kieran Tierney’s time at Arsenal
With his time at the Gunners reportedly winding down to a close, McGinn believes Arsenal’s shift in formation and prioritising of inverted full-backs has ‘counted against’ Tierney under Mikel Arteta.
He stated [Go Radio Football Show]: “At his best, he’s definetely up there worldwide as a left-back. The sort of pace and power he has is especially quick on acceleration.
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“It’s kind of what has counted against him at Arsenal, they changed shape and wanted their left-backs to come in.
“It worked against him because it takes away for me his best attributes, but I think if you asked him on one-to-one defenders, I think Arteta would pick Tierney quite highly up there.”
Celtic’s left-back situation could be subject to change
If Tierney came in, it would be unlikely that Celtic would distribute game time between the Scotland international, Greg Taylor and Alex Valle.
Finding himself in a similar boat, Taylor is out of contract at the Bhoys next summer, and the fact that he hasn’t committed to an extension may be a tell-tale sign of things to come.
Valle is due to make his way back to Barcelona after this campaign, which may prompt discussions over whether to try and deal the La Masia graduate in permanently.
However, recent events have become the strongest indications that the left-back situation at Celtic could be about to change, so watch this space.
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