In-demand Kieran Tierney has reportedly knocked back a trio of Premier League clubs to secure a reyurn to Celtic.
The Scotland defender is inching closer to an exit from Arsenal with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign. The Scottish Premiership leaders are in talks over a pre-contract agreement but could move to fast-track an emotional return to Glasgow’s east end for the boyhood Celtic fan – which could be fast-tracked to a January arrival.
The Telegraph report that the 27-year-old has turned down the chance to stay in England’s top flight to make a move back north of the border. He looks destined to reunite with Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow’s east end having reportedly knocked interest from Premier League clubs Leicester City, Brentford, and West Ham.
The move looks set to have a major impact on Greg Taylor‘s future at the club. The left-back is in the final six months of his contract and is battling for a starting spot with Alex Valle so far this season. Reports in Croatia suggest that the 27-year-old has told the Hoops he wants to leave with Dinamo Zagreb showing interest.
And Michael Stewart reckons that the decision to bring back Tierney has left Taylor in a “complicated” situation. Amid a discussion on the arrival of Tierney on BBC Sportsound, Stewart noted: “Spare a thought for Greg Taylor here. No question – the Greg Taylor contractual situation has been complicated by this. Otherwise, there is no question that his deal would have been done.
“There is always going to be that question mark hanging over this – just hypothetically Kieran Tierney comes and in and gets an injury and Kieran Tierney has gone, there is a gaping hole there. I would imagine Greg Taylor is sitting there and there is uncertainty in his mind.”
Elsewhere, Jota looks to have had a path out of Stade Rennes cleared by boss Jorge Sampaoli amid rumours over a return to Celtic. The winger failed to make it off the bench in his side’s 3-2 defeat to OGC Nice as Ligue 1 emerged from cold storage after the winter break.
Following the game, Sampaoli admitted he was looking for resolutions for his fringe men like the Portuguese wide man: “It has an impact on the whole group. It is a month when players have doubts about their situation, especially with the doubts experienced the previous semester.
“This emotional instability exists. But the important thing is to resolve this situation so that it does not spread.”
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football.