AdminCeltic is gearing up to make its first major move in the January transfer window, with manager Brendan Rodgers looking to strengthen his squad after the surprise 3-0 defeat to Rangers in the New Year derby. One area of concern for Rodgers is the left-back position, with Greg Taylor’s future uncertain as he enters the final six months of his contract, and Alex Valle on loan from Barcelona. To address this, Celtic is considering bringing back former player Kieran Tierney, who left the club for Arsenal in 2019 for a record £25million transfer.
Tierney, who has been struggling to get playing time at Arsenal, has been linked with a return to Celtic, and talks have reportedly begun between the two clubs. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, negotiations are underway for Tierney to return to Celtic, with discussions taking place to reach a full agreement. The 27-year-old fullback is said to be keen on the move, which could involve a loan switch ahead of a permanent free transfer in the summer.
Meanwhile, Rangers is set to miss out on a potential £4million windfall from the sale of midfielder Jose Cifuentes. The Ecuadorian player is currently on loan with Greek side Aris, which had been expected to take up its option to buy him for the prearranged fee. However, reports suggest that Aris has ditched plans to sign Cifuentes permanently, following a change of managers, and the player is now poised to return to Rangers at the end of the season.
Cifuentes, who made just eight appearances for Rangers after arriving from Los Angeles FC for £1.5million in the summer of 2023, still has two-and-a-half years left to run on his Ibrox contract. The player reportedly fell out of favor with new Aris boss Marinos Ouzoundidis and was fined by the club after turning up late for training last month.
The potential return of Tierney to Celtic would be a significant boost to the club, given his experience and quality as a player. The Scotland defender has only recently returned from a long-term hamstring injury and has made a rare appearance for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace before Christmas. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, a move back to Celtic could be an attractive option for Tierney, and the club is reportedly keen to bring him back to Parkhead.
The news of Cifuentes’ potential return to Rangers, on the other hand, may come as a disappointment to the club, which had been expecting to receive a significant transfer fee for the player. The midfielder’s struggles to establish himself at Rangers and his subsequent loan move to Aris have been well-documented, and it remains to be seen how he will fit into the team’s plans when he returns to Ibrox at the end of the season.
Overall, the January transfer window is shaping up to be an interesting one for both Celtic and Rangers, with both clubs looking to make significant moves to strengthen their squads. The potential return of Tierney to Celtic and the possible return of Cifuentes to Rangers are just two of the many storylines that will be unfolding in the coming weeks, and fans of both clubs will be eagerly awaiting news of any developments.
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