Brendan Rodgers responds to rumours Celtic want to sign Arsenal star
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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has refused to fuel speculation of a move for Kieran Tierney but admits the club need to ‘improve the squad in a number of key areas’ ahead of the January transfer window. Tierney made his first appearance of the season in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup quarter-final victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, playing 69 minutes before being replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
![[Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Carabao Cup Quarter Final]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2190596384_ce5e6e.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
A combination of injury problems and Mikel Arteta’s preference for inverted full-backs has seen Tierney drop down the pecking order in north London and the 27-year-old spent last season on loan at La Liga outfit Real Sociedad. Shortly after Arsenal’s defeat of Palace, a report from The Athletic claimed club had decided against activating an option to extend Tierney’s contract, with the defender set for the exit door at the Emirates.
![[Celtic v Alashkert FC - UEFA Champions League Qualifier]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1001323886.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The Gunners are believed to be open to the idea of selling Tierney this winter and the Scotland international has been heavily linked with a return to Celtic. A lifelong Celtic supporter, Tierney joined the Scottish giants aged just seven and went on to make 170 appearances for his boyhood team before completing a £25million switch to Arsenal five years ago.
Rodgers shared a good relationship with Tierney during his first spell in charge of Celtic, even handing the left-back the captain’s armband in 2017, with the pair winning two league titles together. However, when asked about rumours of a possible reunion with Tierney this afternoon, Rodgers remained tight-lipped and refused to discuss specific transfer targets.
