Still a chance that Kieran Tierney will be coming to Celtic on loan | OneFootball

Something tells me that all is not lost as far as Celtic bringing Kieran Tierney back on loan in the January transfer window ahead of his return to the club on a permanent contract in the summer…

Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

It was reported yesterday that Kieran Tierney, while having sealed a return to Celtic in the summer, won’t be arriving on loan in this window as was previously hoped.

Title chasing Arsenal apparently have decided that the Scotland international will remain in London until the end of the season, crushing the hopes of the Celtic supporters that’s we’d have KT in our side for the Champions League play-offs and the rest of the season as we hunt down a treble.

Tierney is essentially out of the picture at the Emirates

To me it just seems a bit odd since Kieran Tierney is essentially out of the picture at the Emirates with several players ahead of him in the pecking order in the Arsenal squad for that left-back role.

Alex Valle in Como colours. Photo social media (Fabrizio Romano)

Changing circumstances

It seemed certain a deal reckoned they’d be able to strike a deal with Arsenal to allow KT to come to Glasgow early especially when Alex Valle was allowed to cut short his loan spell from Barcelona and sign for Italian side Como. Brendan explained that this was essentially due to changing circumstances relating to the game-time commitment he’d given on the Valle deal to come to Celtic for a season-long loan from Barcelona.

Greg Taylor of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League training on January 28, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Greg Taylor remains at Celtic, KT at Arsenal so the only changing circumstances relate to Valle being allowed to leave Celtic to sign for Italian side Como.

A summer wait for KT’s Paradise return

But yesterday’s revelation means that we will have to wait until summer to see Tierney back in the Hoops, with the club even looking to bring a left back in on loan as we currently only have Greg Taylor to rely on.

There’s something odd about this. Arsenal may well have changed their minds at the last minute, with Mikel Arteta telling his board that he does not want Tierney to go to Celtic on loan as he needs the player. To do what? Sit on the bench as an unused substitute at a cost of £110,000 per week?

Mikel Arteta and Henrik Larsson, Rangers v Celtic Ibrox, 4 October 2003, Celtic won 1-0 thanks to a John Hartson goal. Photo Allstar/Richard Selle

It all comes down to money

What I’m saying that there’s still a glimmer of hope that the club can reach an agreement to bring KT back home before the window shuts. Perhaps Arsenal are testing Celtic’s desire to get KT back while in being linked with alternative loan deals Celtic are calling their bluff? Essentially the contribution that Celtic are offering towards Tierney’s wages is not enough to tempt Arsenal so KT stays.

If Brendan really wants Tierney now all it takes is for Michael Nicholson to call his counterpart at the Emirates and up his offer. So never say never, something tells me that Kieran Tierney could be arriving earlier than expected after all. Let’s hope so. If it happens remember you read it here first, if not you can’t blame an ordinary Bhoy for dreaming!

It will be interesting to hear what Brendan Rodgers has to say about this later today at his media conference ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership match at Fir Park against Motherwell, which has a 3pm kick-off and is live on Sky Sports and on Celtic TV to subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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