Normal service has resumed for Celtic.
The past week, Brendan Rodgers had to deal with the unfamiliar and that’s Celtic losing to Rangers at Ibrox – only his second defeat in this fixture from 21 matches.
But to nobody’s surprise, all of that changed on Sunday when Celtic beat St Mirren and Rangers embarrassed themselves again by dropping points at Hibernian despite leading 2-0.
As a result, the soon-to-be 2024/25 Premiership champions are 13 points clear at the top of the table and the January transfer window is now open.
Celtic’s squad is strong as it has ever been, but that doesn’t mean that new players shouldn’t come in because the best time to strengthen is when you are on top.
Before the winter transfer window could even re-open, there has been only one name on the lips of everyone and it’s expected to be talk of the town.
Kieran Tierney dubbed ‘world-class’ and backed to join Celtic from Arsenal
Kieran Tierney is expected to leave Arsenal, after only playing once this season and is set to be out of contract in the summer.
Injuries have played a part in Tierney not playing under Mikel Arteta this term, but he has been an unused substitute for weeks now.
Cammy Bell told Sportscene that, if the Scotland international remains fit, then he is a ‘world-class’ footballer and it would be a ‘massive move’.
Marvin Bartley added by saying the transfer is a ‘no-brainer’ and he cited how the left-back understands Celtic better than anyone else.
Cammy Bell stated: “It’s a massive move. We all know Kieran Tierney’s relationship with Celtic. The way that he loves it. It looks like he wants to come back to the club as well. He is a brilliant player. If you get a fit Kieran Tierney, then he can be world-class. That’s what Celtic could bring back to the club and it looks as if it’s going to be that way, with the way the reports are. I know Brendan Rodgers doesn’t want to speak about a different player at another club. But it would be a massive coup for Celtic.”
“If you can bring Kieran Tierney back, they sold him to Arsenal, still 27,” said Bartley. “Yes, he has had his injury problems. But we have seen him play left of a three for Scotland. He has been fantastic. He can play at left-back and left-wing-back if you need him.
“For me, it’s a no-brainer. He is a boyhood Celtic fan. He understands what it means to be at such a big club. He will take it in his stride and if he does come back, then he can come back and stay fit.”
What Brendan Rodgers said about Tierney returning to Celtic
Rodgers was utterly dominant in his first spell at Celtic and Tierney played a key role in that from the left-hand side.
If he is fit, then he starts in this current team, especially with mixed feelings around Greg Taylor, who is going to be out of contract in the summer.
But after Celtic’s win over St Mirren, Rodgers stated that he was confident the club will get deals done in January, but he was pretty blunt when asked a direct question about Tierney.
“Just strengthen in general,” Rodgers told BBC Sport about the winter transfer window. “We know what it is we are looking to do. I am 100% confident that the club will do everything in order to support that.
“It’s important to have that freshness going into the second part of the season. We have deals we are going to do between now and the end of January we are hoping to do that.
On talk of Tierney returning and if he has an update: “No,” responded Rodgers in a blunt fashion. “He is an Arsenal player, so clearly I won’t speak about it.”
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