The injury to Kieran Tierney picked up against Switzerland on Wednesday night was seen by some Celtic bloggers as a reason why Brendan Rodgers should not consider a return for the left-back.
There’s been more positive news from Jack Hendry who hints that the injury might not be as serious as first thought.
There is no doubt that KT is injury prone and given his talent, that must be a huge frustration for the boy himself. He went from being considered as being the next Arsenal captain to being surplus to requirements and the latest injury playing for Scotland at Euro 2024 will further confirm Mikel Arteta’s view that there’s now no place for Tierney in his squad for the former Celtic full-back they paid £25m for.
No-one knows Brendan Rodgers’ view on a possible Celtic return for KT but the transfer fee will be a significant factor. For example had Arsenal made it known that they wanted to recoup their original transfer fee paid to Celtic then there is NO CHANCE that Celtic would be interested. Same goes for £20m, £15m and even the cut-price £10m that appears to be the figure ahead of the latest Teirney injury blow.
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Celtic could conceivably be able to trade at £10m but for that kind of investment – in a player who is unlikely to have much sell-on value going forward – it would be a huge financial gamble for Brendan Rodgers to take for a player who is as likely to be on the treatment table as playing down the left hand side for the team he adores.
So you would have to think that Celtic, even if there was interest ahead of the match earlier this week, will have reason to pause and consider the wisdom of any such move. Perhaps Celtic, cautious as ever, will have decided to wait and see how things pan out and if KT gets through the competition unscathed.
So where does that leave any potential move for KT to Celtic or indeed anywhere else and what does the latest injury mean for Arsenal?
Arteta might decide to retain KT as a squad player, where the former Celt will continue to pick up the huge Premier League wages for the next two seasons. If it’s only about money KT should stay put, maybe go out on another loan to the likes of Real Sociedad and aim for the next World Cup with Scotland which will be held across venues in Canada, USA and Mexico.
The £10m transfer fee Arsenal were reportedly looking for may well have dropped after factoring in Tierney’s latest injury and the impact that that may have on potential buyers. That could open the door for a Celtic return with a deal of around £5m and a payment to Tierney in lieu of the vast sums he’d be missing out on if he stays at Arsenal, unwanted. That kind of deal would bring an end of the matter for Arsenal and save them a considerable sum in wages for a player who is not in their manager’s plans.
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It would give Celtic squad cover at left back for where there is none now. And with Greg Taylor and Kieran Tierney at the club there would be an opportunity for play players to be rotated, or used sparingly throughout the season. KT is a player you wouldn’t expect to be playing 50 plus games per season, even though he is still only 27. But Celtic could reasonably expect to get 30 games out of him and for Brendan to be able to manage that.
That reduction on expected game-time is another reason why the £10m price should drop. Celtic shouldn’t pay £10m for KT but perhaps the manager will see some value in taking the risk at say around the £5-6m mark.
Essentially that’s a more realistic asking price for the player as things currently stand. And it just might be a risk worth taking for Brendan Rodgers.
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So now we’ve to pay millions for an injury prone,part time player?…….run that by me again…..Uncle Pete
100% agree,Rob.
I was writing much the same as you at around the same time as you.
See my comment
To be honest,l don’t think the head honcho bean counter at Celtic Park will allow such a deal to go ahead ….at ANY price.
The only way KT will find himself back in Paradise is either on a free transfer and a pay as you play deal or if one of his mates gives him a loan of his standing section area ticket.
For once,l would back Parasite Pete on this transfer business as it’s riddled with uncertainties.
We can and would get better value elsewhere for £5m.
Let’s remember him as the player he WAS for Celtic,not some injury prone crock,sponsored by BUPA.
This talk about spending around £10 million plus wages is just paper talk he is on near £100’000 per week 2 years left in his contract will give that up a sign for Celtic for if lucky a third of that it’s all bullshit paper talk please stop printing this rubbish.
I don’t think it’s rubbish. He has obviously had someone at the club tell him what they can offer otherwise he would not be suggesting he’s desperate to come home etc.
5-6 mill to get 2/3 of a season out of the best full-back in the league-or elsewhere-is a great deal.
We have millions in the bank and can negotiate wages.
Not saying it will happen but it’s not unrealistic. He’s still got six or seven good years ahead of him.