IT IS already shaping up to be a busy transfer period at Celtic as the Glasgow giants prepare for a tough season ahead.
The Hoops won a treble last season and a key member of that unit, manager Ange Postecoglou, has already left to take up the Tottenham Hotspur job. Brendan Rodgers is back at the Celtic helm as the Greek-Australian’s replacement and he has a big job ahead, trying to reorganise and recharge the team for a busy campaign.
Postecoglou’s exit was a shock after his exploits over his two years at the club and Celtic were banking on him as they prepare for the Champions League and domestic assignments. There is, however, Rodgers’ stamp already as things take shape.
Five new faces are in at the club, but there’s still a feeling more could come, which begs the question, who will be the sixth? There is talk of Kieran Tierney sealing an emotional return to the Scottish champions, but that is majorly fueled by his lack of play time at Arsenal. If this happens, perhaps it will mark the Hoops’ biggest transfer coup in recent years, but it will be more of Tierney’s love for Celtic and home comforts than anything else.
Either way, it would surely boost Celtic’s rating on Cheeky which details tips for various competitions as well as reviews, stats and bookmaker offers.
Worked together
It is noteworthy to indicate that Tierney worked with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic before being scouted by Arsenal then making the switch. At Arsenal, he enjoyed his first season, making the left back role his own and was even deemed a future Arsenal skipper. At some point when injured, Arsenal would turn from a serious top four contender to a shambolic unit.
But then that would only fuel Mikel Arteta’s need to bring in a world class competitor as Nuno Tavares, his backup was deemed inadequate. Arsenal got Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City and for Tierney, things have never been the same again.
Rumors of his discomfort at Arsenal were met with reports that he could consider a pay cut to go back to his childhood club, Celtic. While that remains far off, Brendan Rodgers would do with such a switch as he looks to build on Postecoglou’s achievements last season.
Transfer blow
Celtic’s transfer blow isn’t only limited to Postecoglou’s acceptance of Spurs’ offer, they recently had to accept a big-money bid from Saudi Arabia, of their top player, Jota. The Portuguese winger scored 15 times and got 12 assists as Celtic claimed a treble last season. With the £25m received from the sale of Jota, £7.5m of which will go to Benfica, Celtic could be tempted to make a top bid to get Tierney from Arsenal, but that would hinge on Tierney accepting a pay cut.
Recent reports indicate Tierney had a discussion over his future with Mikel Arteta and has agreed to stay at Arsenal. However, there’s nothing official to that effect and that is enough reason for Rodgers to stay optimistic. What is official, though, is that Zinchenko is ahead of him in the pecking order at Arsenal.
Then there is the fact that at different points, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber have been deployed on the left side ahead of Tierney. That is really telling, and unless he is ready to be a squad player, this may be the time for a reunion with the Glasgow giants.
