KIERAN Tierney WON’T close the door on a Celtic return if Brendan Rodgers looks for a sensational summer reunion.
SunSport understands the Arsenal and Scotland left-back will spend the close season weighing up his future after a deeply frustrating 2022-23 campaign.
Brendan Rodgers with Kieran Tierney
Tierney is out of favour at Arsenal
Brendan Rodgers and KIeran Tierney
Newcastle United have long tracked Tierney but he’s also now being linked with the Hoops.
Rodgers has been handed a huge £30million transfer budget for his second spell in charge of the Hoops.
And has never hidden his admiration for Tierney, who he took to another level as a player during his first Parkhead hotseat spell.
But even that wouldn’t be enough to buy the Isle of Man-born ace who left Celtic for the Gunners in 2019 for a Scottish record £25m and currently earns £120,000-a-week on a contract until 2026.
However, a season-long loan could yet be a possibility IF both a substantial loan fee and significant compromise over wages can be agreed with Arsenal and Tierney.
A Rodgers swoop would be a stunning statement of intent as he aims to maintain Celtic’s domestic dominance and make a big impact in the Champions League.
Newcastle are seen as favourites to land Tierney – but rival Hoops interest would provide a major emotional pull for him after coming through the club’s academy.
Tierney, signed by Unai Emery, featured just 36 times last term as the London giants’ title bid crumbled during the run-in with Manchester City powering to a third consecutive success.
He’s already won eight trophies with Celtic, and has lifted the FA Cup with the Gunners.
But boss Mikel Arteta gave him a meagre four starts from January.
Arteta’s £30m purchase of Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko a year ago greatly impacted Tierney’s first-team possibilities.
He’s never ruled out a second spell with his boyhood heroes Celtic but it’s always been anticipated that would be in his 30s.
The 26-year-old was replaced by the £2m Greg Taylor and it took him time to win over sceptical fans.
Now, though, he’s firmly established as a first pick and better appreciated.
Celtic also have £3.75m Alexandro Bernabei as cover.
But given any encouragement, Rodgers could view a chance to bring back Tierney as being too hard to resist.
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