Kieran Tierney and Brendan Rodgers hit the Celtic headlines over the weekend after the pair were spotted chatting at a charity event in London.
The duo, alongside Bhoys icons such as Martin O’Neil and Chris Sutton, came together as Celtic FC Foundation raised over £400,000 for good causes.
The Tierney and Rodgers reunion photo sparked a lot of attention online, with thousands of fans interacting with the club’s social media posts and many expressing their desire for Tierney to come back to his football home.
Whether it’s realistic for Celtic to sign the Arsenal star, earning big wages in the English Premier League, depends on who you speak to.
Some think it’s a viable proposition, while others laugh it off and suggest it’s far-fetched, citing the money involved and Tierney’s injury issues over the years.
Rodgers’ own words last year do show, however, that it will never be ruled out as long as the left-back is still plying his trade.
What Brendan Rodgers has said about Kieran Tierney return to Celtic
After returning to the club for a second spell as manager, the Celtic boss was inevitably linked with a transfer move for Tierney, as seems to happen every summer.
Rather than simply brushing it off as paper talk, Rodgers made it clear that it’s a door that will never really shut for either party.
In a press conference, he said, “When I spoke to him down the road in the Premier League, every time we met up all we talked about was Celtic. He’s a Celtic man but he’s at a fantastic club in Arsenal.
“You can just never say never in football. Who knows what might happen? We wouldn’t be able to buy Kieran for £25-£30million, that’s for sure, or the figures I see banded about.
“I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to pay the huge salary he’s on. However, one can never tell. Kieran has an incredible history with the club. He was a massive part of my time here, so there will always be that link. You never know.”
Tierney’s future is uncertain and Celtic will be in the mix
With the Scotland international’s contract expiring in 2026 Tierney is expected to leave Arsenal before too long.
He’s not in Mikel Arteta’s plans and Celtic should at least be assessing his situation, especially if there’s a need for a left-back next summer.
Despite fitness issues, Tierney showed he could still compete at a top level last season, featuring for Real Sociedad out on loan in Spain and demonstrating his usual combative abilities.
| Kieran Tierney in 2023/24 La Liga | |
| Appearances | 20 |
| Tackles won per 90 | 1.74 |
| Duels won % | 59.6% |
| Tackles won % | 64.9% |
| Chances created | 8 |
| Assists | 2 |
He would still excel in the Scottish Premiership and working under Rodgers, one of the most influential managers in his career, could unlock the best of his form.
Keep an open mind. He may not be the electric talent with huge potential who left Scotland for record-breaking money back in 2019, but don’t write him off yet. Nor a blockbuster return north.
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