Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, has refrained from commenting on the potential return of Kieran Tierney to the Scottish Champions before the transfer window ends. Tierney, once a beloved figure among Celtic fans, has found himself out of favour with Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta.
Tierney was absent from Arsenal’s victory over Crystal Palace and was recently seen training separately from the first team. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that his departure from Arsenal is imminent. He has been linked with several clubs, including Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Real Sociedad, and even Celtic. Reports in June suggested that Tierney might be open to an emotional return to Celtic, possibly on loan.
However, when questioned about the possibility of re-signing Tierney during his pre-St Johnstone press conference, Rodgers was non-committal.
He responded, as quoted by Football Scotland: “Listen, I would never speak about Kieran other than the time when I had him here. He’s an Arsenal player and that’s where he is at.
“I think for Kieran himself, he’ll want to play. He’s not a young player anymore, he’s a player who will want to play football, no doubt. Especially where he was with Arsenal for his first couple of years and at times, captaining the club.
“They’ve got a really strong squad, Mikel has done a fantastic job. But for Kieran himself, I’m sure he’ll be looking to go out and play – that’s the way I would see it.”
Celtic fans would undoubtedly be thrilled to see Tierney return to the club where he made his name. The emotional connection between Tierney and the Celtic faithful is strong, and his homecoming would be a sensational story.
The Irishman played a pivotal role in Kieran Tierney’s development during his time at Celtic, effectively turning him into a £25m player.
Under Rodgers’ guidance, Tierney evolved from a promising young talent into one of the most sought-after full-backs in British football. Rodgers recognised Tierney’s potential and gave him the confidence and opportunities to flourish, deploying him in a role that maximized his strengths.
Their good relationship was evident both on and off the pitch, with Rodgers often praising Tierney’s work ethic and attitude.
The trust and understanding between the two were instrumental in Tierney’s growth, leading to his eventual big-money move to Arsenal.
However, the financial intricacies of such a move make the possibility of it being pulled off very slim. The cost involved and the competition from other clubs are significant hurdles.
But as football has shown time and again, stranger things have happened. After all, Brendan Rodgers himself made a surprising return to Celtic this summer. While the odds may be against it, you can never rule it out.
