Kieran Tierney left Celtic in the summer of 2019 in a Scottish record £25 million move to join Arsenal. The left-back had come through the youth ranks at Parkhead and was one of the club’s best players. Thus, him leaving was a major blow for sure. Could there be a return on the cards in the future?
We have already seen one unexpected Celtic return this summer, with Brendan Rodgers being appointed the manager once again, just four years after he left the club under controversial circumstances. So never say never in football.
Rodgers was without a club though. That is not the case with Tierney, who is still at Arsenal. But he has slipped down the pecking order there and currently finds himself as an option on the bench.
As a result, Tierney is expected to leave Arsenal this summer and the idea of a return to Celtic on loan to bring his career back on track has been floated in the media. Is it possible though?
Sky Sports man makes Tierney Celtic return claim
As reported by GIVEMESPORT, Anthony Joseph said regarding the situation of Tierney:
"“I’m sure he would love to come back to Celtic. I’m sure Celtic would love to have him back as well.“But I think there will be some major hurdles to overcome for that to actually happen now.”"
To be very honest, Celtic do not seem to be a likely destination for Tierney this summer, even if he does leave Arsenal. He was heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United, but that saga has been dragging on for quite some time now. Aston Villa are another club rumoured to hold an interest in the Scottish left-back.
It would be a mistake to completely rule out the chances of a return to Celtic on loan though. His current deal with Arsenal runs until the summer of 2026. So, they are under no immediate pressure to let him go, if they feel they are not getting the right transfer offer for him.
A loan move to Celtic would give Tierney the chance to get regular football, compete for trophies, play Champions League football and work with a manager in Rodgers, who knows how to get the best out of him. Thus, a return to Parkhead might not be as far-fetched as most seem to believe.