Brendan Rodgers has revealed why Kieran Tierney didn’t return to Celtic on transfer deadline day.
Tierney will rejoin Celtic in the summer on a four-year deal, but there was hope from supporters that he would join on loan for the remainder of the season from Arsenal. However, that did not happen before yesterday’s deadline, with Jeffrey Schlupp instead joining on loan until the summer.
A Tierney loan return would have slightly eased pressure on Celtic from supporters over the lack of a Kyogo replacement, but with Arsenal seemingly playing hardball over a loan deal, Tierney will have to wait to make his second debut at Paradise.
It’s a move that would have been met with fanfare on deadline day, but with Mikel Arteta seemingly wanting to keep Tierney until the end of the season, it left Celtic circling to find a left-back to compete with Greg Taylor, having lost Álex Valle earlier this month, with the Spaniard moving to Como.
When asked ‘How close were you or were you close to getting Kieran Tierney up in January?’
Rodgers said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “No, it wasn’t close. I think that it was clear, obviously, Kieran for the summer. If that was the possibility, then that was on Arsenal’s terms.
“Nothing to do with Celtic. If it was to happen, then great. But clearly, he was a part of their squad and he’ll be here in the summer.”
It’s clear from what Rodgers said that it was more about Arteta and Arsenal than a lack of willingness to bring Tierney back on loan.
With Rodgers having worked so successfully with Tierney during his first spell at the club, it is a move that will excite the Irishman. However, with Celtic ultimately being unable to bring Tierney back for the remainder of the season, it’s yet another instance of the Hoops failing to sign a player in the winter window that they had hoped to.
