Kieran Tierney

Charlie Nicholas was never entirely forgiven for his defection towards the bright lights and brighter ladies of the big smoke.

But as Kieran Tierney becomes embroiled in this summer’s transfer saga between Arsenal and Celtic, the idea that the 22-year-old’s affection for the club he has been affiliated with since the age of seven is somehow compromised by the seductive element of Arsenal’s interest, as some on social boards would suggest, is absurd.

Tierney made his Celtic first-team debut at just 17. He captained the team at 20. By the age of 22 he can boast to have been pivotal to the delivery of three consecutive trebles, one of which was an Invincible season, unlikely to be repeated any time soon. The idea that there is a betrayal in walking away rather than hanging around to help Celtic reach the fabled 10-in-a-row is parochial in a way that only football fans can be.

When it comes down to it, the money involved in dislodging Tierney from the Celtic womb is eye-watering and life-changing. All in all, Arsenal wouldn’t get much change out of £40million if they eventually reach the tipping point where Celtic will talk.

The Parkhead side are well within their rights not to budge until the London club hit the magic £25m. Given some of the sums that trade hands south of the border, such a fee for a player who has already captained both club and country seems more than reasonable. That Tierney can develop into one of the best left-backs in Europe is undeniable.

Tierney himself would go from around £25k a week to £70k a week, a deal that would ultimately seem him bank £20m in salary over the length of the contract Arsenal are proposing. There is an emotional appeal of a club and then there is real life.

The player himself is something of a throwback, and not to the gallus element who have trodden a similar path before. There is something old-school about Tierney, who still lives with his parents in the house he bought them, who rarely drinks, who turns up at games on his days off with his mates to cheer on the team he was born into supporting. There is an authenticity not just to his Celtic credentials but the fact that he has never quite forgotten where he came from; he paid for new strips for his local pub team Bullfrog AFC and can regularly be spotted on the sidelines of their pitch of a Sunday morning.

His affection for Celtic runs deeper than just a beating of the chest, the grabbing of a loudspeaker and a larking around with the ultra element of the club support; his affinity with the club feels like it defines him.

Having signed a lucrative extension to his Celtic contract only last season, he is not shy of a bob or two. And yet there is a feeling that it is not the money that would appeal to Tierney but the platform that Arsenal can offer.

A short time ago Andy Robertson and Tierney were regarded as more or less at the same level. Robertson has a few good years on Tierney but his acceleration at Liverpool and the weight of a Champions League winner’s medal around his neck is not something that can easily be overlooked.

Outwith the top six it is unlikely that Tierney would be tempted by the move south but Arsenal offer something intriguing. The sight of Tierney at a club where of late there has been an acceptance of mediocrity and palpable lack of hunger might stick in the craw of an element of the Celtic support but few would expect that his trademark aggressive play would be diluted if he swapped the crest on his shirt.

It is a delicate balance for all concerned. Celtic cannot afford to stand accused of allowing Tierney to leave on the cheap and Tierney – who has not made one public utterance on the matter – will be aware of the sensitivity around any prospective move. A switch would not alter his emotional connection to the club any more than it will change the colour of his eyes.

And nor should there be any blurring in how he is viewed through the eyes of the support.

 

100%..

The whole taking online forum snippets makes me think he and the board possibly think he'll get a very bad reaction to leaving..

I'd be very surprised if he did..

 

I’m still in denial.

 

Hope her * falls off.

 

The * is gonna be here for us getting 55 before the Huns

 

Here for the 10 and an EL final before moving to Barca for 60 mill.

Kieran Tierney of Arsenal doesn't sound as good as Keiran Tierney of Celtic.

* the negativity.

 

They should pay attention in history class.

 

My * she sounds like she's married to Walker, that is very poor journalism, pure tabloidism. When someone uses 'social forums' as a source for their 'betrayal' narrative you know it's Twitter and Facebook, those bastions of truth and reason.

Love how she lists all the things that are great about his character to use as leverage against the fans turning their back on a good man.

She also needs a thesaurus, hilarious wee digs at the gallus 'element' and the Ultra 'element' and that's when she was bigging KT up she couldn't resist, Notorious you * see what you and your cronies have done to our image no wonder he's turning his back on us as we turn our back on him

£70k a week

 

If he doesnt want to go the board should back him and come out and say he is not for sale at any price . But if he is thinking about it its got to done as soon as possible , we dont want another Dembele situation on the last day of the transfer window . Hope hes here for the 10

 

What does one thing has to do with the another and what transfer suggestions are you talking about since not even I can remember the last guy I said "we should be looking into this"?

 

Calm down it’s called a joke ffs.

 

That won't be happening.

I think the board would be very happy to do the deal if it goes to £25 million for a variety of reasons.

The first obvious one is that we'd be £25 million better off and have one of our higher earners off the wage bill, Boli won't be on near what KT is on.

Secondly it's a big plus point for attracting academy players when you can point to the likes of KT in the EPL.

Thirdly it will push up the ceiling of transfer fees we can ask for, if he does well at Arsenal and Dembele keeps improving it strengthens our position in future negotiations.

 

Had the third bid been accepted, this would all make sense. But, the club haven't rushed to sell Kieran. He might, or might not go. But, I believe that Kieran would not mind staying here. Unhappy players kick up a fuss when they want to leave.

 

See am sceptical about a few things.

He hasn’t been seen at all since Austria.
Jurno are now doing pieces how much a Celtic man he is.
Agent and pieces saying it’s upto Celtic board
He hasn’t been listed for any of the Celtic Festival.

Almost as if they are trying to prepare to justify him going imo

 

Arsenal who “only have 40 mill” have had in the past week a 30 mill deal agreed for sabilla which spurs have hijacked, a 30 mill deal agreed for Everton soares and a 40 mill bid rejected for zaha but canny give us 25 mill upfront for KT