Brendan Rodgers has responded to suggestions that Kieran Tierney could make a sensational return to Celtic, refusing to rule out a potential re-union with his former player saying ‘you should never say never in football’.
The 26-year-old joined Arsenal from the Scottish Champions back in 2019 in a £25million transfer.
After a promising start to life at the Emirates Stadium, Tierney would become an integral member of Arteta’s side, signing a new five-year contract back in 2021, that Mail Sport understands sees him earn £100,000-a-week.
Since joining, he’s scored five times in 123 appearances for the football club, but has struggled in recent years to live up to his form of old, and that has lead to some speculation earlier this season that Arsenal could be willing to listen to offers for him.
And one team who are being linked with Tierney are his former side, Celtic, with new manager Rodgers admitting that while his side may not be able to afford Tierney’s wages, he wouldn’t rule out a move for the Scotland international.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers (right) has claimed he wouldn’t rule out a potential move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney (left)
The Celtic academy graduate (pictured) joined the Gunners in 2019 and despite an excellent first few seasons, the defender has struggled to get regular game time under Mikel Arteta
Tierney won five Scottish league titles and three Scottish cups with Celtic before moving to Arsenal
‘There’s been lots of players linked with here with me coming back,’ Rodgers said according to The Metro. ‘All I know is Kieran is like myself, we loved our time here,’ Rodgers said when asked about the transfer links.
‘When I spoke to him down the road in the Premier League, every time we met up all we talked about was Celtic. He’s a Celtic man but he’s at a fantastic club in Arsenal.’
The Northern Irishman managed Tierney during his first spell at the club, with the pair going on to win multiple Scottish league titles during that time.
And while Rodgers didn’t openly admit Tierney was a target, he didn’t refuse to rule out a transfer: ‘You can just never say never in football. Who knows what might happen? We wouldn’t be able to buy Kieran for £25-£30million, that’s for sure, or the figures I see banded about.
‘I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to pay the huge salary he’s on. However, one can never tell.
While Tierney possesses plenty of quality, injuries have held him back in recent years.
A cartilage problem in his knee notably required surgery and saw the wing-back spend some time on the sides back in 2022, prompting Arteta to sign new reinforcements that have come in the form of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
And he has since fallen down the pecking order, in the position, notably being named in Arsenal’s squad for 38 games last season, but starting in just six matches – a far cry from his second season at the club that saw him start in 26 of the 27 league matches he was available for.
Following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko (middle) Tierney has struggled to get regular game time for the Gunners, prompting questions over whether he could leave the club
And new Celtic manager Rodgers (pictured) didn’t rule out the move but remained realistic over whether his side could afford Tierney
The defender signed a five-year contract extension with Arsenal in 2021 and Mail Sport understands that makes him around £100,000-a-week.
‘What I would say is that we have a couple of really good left-backs here already, Rodgers, who joined Celtic in June, added. ‘I have been really impressed with young Greg Taylor.
‘Watching him come in and settling in at Celtic, he’s been excellent. Bernabei is still young and adapting, but I’ve liked those two during the course of pre-season.
‘Kieran has an incredible history with the club. He was a massive part of my time here, so there will always be that link. You never know.’
It comes after former Celtic boss Neil Lennon called attempts to lure Tierney back to Celtic, a ‘long shot‘ amid much speculation over the defender’s future at the club.
Manchester City have also been interested in Tierney, while there is also a chance he could re-unite with another former manager, Unai Emery, with the now Villa boss initially bringing the Celtic academy graduate to the club back in 2019
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