Celtic have been in amazing form in the 2024/25 season, and they now lead the Scottish Premiership table with seven wins in seven games.
In their seven games in the top tier, the Hoops have conceded one goal, none from open play, and have won both League Cup games.
Brendan Rodgers’ team also won their first Champions League match, 5-1 over Slovan at Parkhead, before being thrashed 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund in Germany in their second game.
Their poor performance in Europe was an outlier compared to the rest of their season, during which they won every other game in all competitions.
The Northern Irish head coach will undoubtedly be pleased with his team’s start to the season and will be hoping to maintain their excellent form with a win over Aberdeen, who have won all seven of their league games, at Parkhead on Saturday.
Despite Celtic’s near-perfect start to the season, Rodgers may yet attempt to bolster his team when the January transfer window opens, with one player allegedly interested in a move to Paradise.
Premier League talent wants to move to Celtic.
According to The Boot Room, Celtic are interested in recruiting Kieran Tierney from Premier League club Arsenal for the second half of the season.
According to reports, the Scotland international wants to leave Arsenal and return to Glasgow for a second spell during the January window. The Gunners are willing to let him leave on a loan deal, as the Scottish club may not be able to afford a permanent deal.
According to the outlet, Arsenal may consider a permanent deal with the Bhoys in the future, as Tierney’s contract does not expire until the summer of 2026. The Scottish defender was in talks to return to Parkhead during the summer transfer window, but a serious hamstring injury prevented the move. However, Tierney is expected to return to fitness in January, potentially opening the door for Celtic.
If Rodgers and the Hoops can complete a deal for the Arsenal outcast at the start of next year, it may be a more significant addition than Arne Engels was in the summer.
How much did Celtic pay for Arne Engels
Celtic shown their desire in the last transfer window by breaking their record transfer fee to sign the Belgian international from Augsburg.
The Scottish giants allegedly paid £11 million to buy the central midfielder from the Bundesliga club, demonstrating the club’s faith in him and Rodgers.
When considering the transfer money, the Hoops made an audacious move. However, he came in as a young player who did not make many starts for a squad that finished 11th in the Bundesliga previous season.
Engels started 13 of his 32 appearances in the German top division in the 2023/24 season, indicating that they did not trust him to start week after week in one of Europe’s best leagues.
That prompted Celtic to jump in and bring him to Scotland to continue his development by frequently playing for Rodgers in Glasgow, and he has already made an impressive start at Parkhead.
The Belgian teenager has two goals and three assists in his past six games for the Hoops in all competitions, including one goal and two assists in the Champions League, since making his debut off the bench in a 3-0 win over Rangers at the beginning of September.
24/25 Premiership
Arne Engels
Appearances
4
Sofascore rating.
7.38
Goals
1
Key passes.
5
Assists
0
Stats via Sofascore.
As shown in the table above, he has already demonstrated his attacking ability in four Premiership appearances for the Hoops, scoring once and creating five opportunities.
Celtic might now make an even larger deal than Engels by swooping in on a player who has proven himself in the major European leagues.
As indicated in the table above, he has already proven his attacking prowess in four Premiership outings for the Hoops, scoring once and generating five chances.
Celtic may now make an even bigger deal than Engels by swooping in on a player who has established himself in the top European divisions.
Tierney’s reported wage of £110k per week would be a significant investment for the Scottish club, whether on loan or permanent. The 27-year-old is a more experienced player than Engels, having played 124 matches for Arsenal in all competitions and 26 for Real Sociedad in 2023/24.
During his first stay at Celtic, the Scottish ace also contributed 37 assists in 170 games, helping the club win 11 domestic trophies.
This implies that the Hoops will bring in a player who has proven himself in Scotland as well as two big leagues, the Premier League and LaLiga, at the age of 27.
Tierney spent the season on loan in LaLiga with Real Sociedad, where he demonstrated his defensive strength with a 60% duel success rate and an average of several tackles and interceptions per game.
23/24 LaLiga.
Kieran Tierney
Appearances
20
Sofascore rating.
6.94
Tackles and interceptions per game
2.4
Assists
2
Duel success rate
60%
Stats via Sofascore.
To return to his former brilliance, the £110,000-per-week great must overcome his injury issues, which have resulted in at least 17 games lost in each of the last five seasons.
Overall, Tierney is a top-class operator who, when healthy, can be a dominant defensive presence while also providing a creative danger down the left flank, and bringing in a player of his kind would be an even larger coup than Engels’ £11 million signing this summer.
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