Stephen McGinn admits that he is surprised that top clubs in the English Premier League are not willing to take a gamble on Kieran Tierney amid Celtic’s push to bring him back to his boyhood club.

With just six months left on his contract at Arsenal, the Scotland star will be allowed to leave the North London giants this month after making just one appearance for Mikel Arteta’s side in the first half of the season despite his return from a hamstring injury suffered at Euro 2024. Brendan Rodgers and the Hoops are working hard on sealing a Parkhead return for the 27-year-old this month, with a loan deal the most likely solution.

But former SPFL midfielder McGinn is shocked by the lack of interest in the full back and reckons Celtic would only sanction a January move for Tierney if it all adds up financially. Speaking on Go Radio, he said: “Celtic don’t really have any right in the modern times to get him. Every top club wants two players for every position. Kieran Tierney has been available for a lot of games in the last few years. You are telling me a Man United wouldn’t be interested in a Kieran Tierney and would pay more money for him just to be a squad player?

“Celtic aren’t going to do anything mad financially and take risks, especially over the left back position. They have just made a profit on (Alexandro) Bernabei so it might be that behind the scenes, that offsets what the loan fee will be for Kieran Tierney.”

Boss Rodgers has hit out at sections of the club’s support for chanting their former hero’s name during the 3-0 win over St Mirren on Sunday, deeming it as a lack of respect for current left back Greg Taylor – who with six months left on his own deal is a target for Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb. But McGinn doesn’t see it that way at all, adding: “Celtic would be getting Kieran Tierney for the love of the club and him wanting to come back.

“He has got a particular relationship with that section of the crowd that were singing about him. They totally bought into him and he bought into them so I think it was more of an excitement from that section in thinking he is coming back. I didn’t really associate it with Greg Taylor.”

Greg Taylor

However, former Hoops favourite John Hartson admits he does have concerns over Taylor’s ability at the top level and has questioned why Celtic are not exploring the prospect of signing Barcelona loanee Alex Valle on a permanent basis. He stated: “When it comes to the Champions League and big games, I just think he (Taylor) finds himself a bit wanting sometimes.

“He has stood the test and played a lot of games in the Scottish Premiership to be fair but I just think they will be wanting a better version of him. If you are going to let his contract run down or sell him, then you have got (Alex) Valle but he would obviously cost money to bring over from Barcelona.”

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