Former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney may have left the Bhoys in 2019, but his career progression and the heights he could hit remain interesting, especially since he’s been linked to a La Liga move.
Two months ago, Spanish reports credited Real Madrid with interest in the former Bhoys stalwart. Now, according to Culé Mania, a Barcelona-specific website owned by Global Media Group, Barcelona are interested, too. Los Culés could use another left-back, with Jordi Alba progressing in years.
All very interesting, but what’s the advantage for Celtic fans, beyond a smugness at watching an Academy product potentially star in El Clasico? Well, a 15% sell-on clause agreed by Celtic and Arsenal in 2019 [Sun] remains a fascinating wrinkle in any Kieran Tierney saga.
If you cast your mind back two summers, you’ll remember that there was a prolonged back-and-forth between Celtic and Arsenal over Kieran Tierney. Celtic held firm for a lucrative sell-on fee, knowing that Tierney could succeed in North London. 15% was agreed, and it could see the Hoops net a sizeable chunk of whatever Real Madrid or Barcelona could pay for Tierney.
KT, who can play as either a left-back or a centre-back, has been hailed by Scotland manager Steve Clarke. Clarke reckons Tierney is the “best overlapping centre-back in world football” [High Performance Podcast]. The Arsenal man is considered captain material in North London, but is seemingly destined for bigger things.
What could Kieran Tierney net Celtic as La Liga giants hover?
Admittedly, 15% doesn’t sound like a huge amount. However, consider any fee involved here. Arsenal would surely be looking for at least £40m for Tierney, were they to entertain offers. Given that he signed for £25m in 2019, and how the market has changed since then, it doesn’t seem unreasonable.
That would result in a cool £6m profit for Celtic, which would surely be welcomed by the Parkhead bean counters. When Celtic sold Tierney, they would’ve been aware that £25m was just the start.
However, how keen would Arsenal be to sell the roving left-back? That remains unclear.
Mikel Arteta has largely picked KT when available, and he has the 7th most minutes of any Gunners player this season [WhoScored?]. Having lost Aubameyang to Barcelona, it seems unlikely that Arsenal would want to move on from another big dressing room presence.
Still, from a Celtic perspective? Let the rumours swirl. Not only because it’d be incredible to see a Celtic Academy graduate compete at such an elite level, but because of what it’d net Celtic.
Given the prudent spending we’ve seen under Ange Postecoglou, £6m would be a real, significant boost. We’ve seen star players signed for well under that, including the bargain signings of Josip Juranovic at £2.5m, and Matt O’Riley for just £1.5m.
Kieran Tierney, a life-long Celtic fan, can continue to help out his bhoyhood club well after moving on.
Read more: Yet another pundit labels Celtic title-favourites after previously ridiculing Ange Postecoglou
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