Rodgers Hoping to Complete Celtic Swoop for Arsenal's Tierney

Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo
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Rodgers Hoping to Complete Celtic Swoop for Arsenal's Tierney

Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - January 21, 2025 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney, manager Mikel Arteta and Maldini Kacurri during training Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File photo

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping a deal can be agreed with Arsenal to expedite Kieran Tierney's return to Glasgow before the end of the transfer window.

The Scotland international is set to return to Celtic, who he left for the Gunners in 2019, on a free transfer with his contract at the Emirates expiring at the end of the season.

However, the Scottish champions are pushing to bring Tierney home before the window closes next week, AFP reported.

"I think we're agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great," said Rodgers on Tuesday.

"I don't want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he's not a Celtic player here now with us.

"But if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that's out of our control at this moment in time."

Tierney has fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal but four of his five appearances this season have come this month as Mikel Arteta battles an injury crisis.

Celtic are already assured of a place in the Champions League play-off round ahead of Wednesday's visit to Aston Villa.

It is the first time in 12 years that the Hoops have reached the knockout phase of Europe's elite competition, but Rodgers said his side's work is not complete.

"It's a great achievement to be in the top 24, I think, if you look at the economics at this level," added the former Liverpool boss.

"The players have worked very, very hard and do what we set out to do, which was to firstly arrive in the play-offs, the players have done that. So it's great.

"But our job's not complete in this series of eight games. We come here to a great venue. It's a fantastic team, but we want to come and play to the level that we know we can do."

Celtic, however, will have to live without three key players from the side that beat Young Boys last week to secure qualification.

Kyogo Furuhashi has left to join Rennes, Daizen Maeda is suspended, while Cameron Carter-Vickers misses out through injury.

And Rodgers is keen to ensure he has a replacement for Kyogo, who scored 85 goals in 165 games for the club, before the end of the window.

"He's been a real iconic player for the club, he's done brilliantly during his time.

"It's about getting a replacement, he did a great job, but he wanted to leave.

"We have known for a number of months. Clearly we wouldn't have wanted to sell him but he made it clear he wanted to move and when that's the case, we have to find the best solution for the club."



Cilic Says 600th Tour-Level Win Shows His Dedication to the Sport 

Marin Cilic of Croatia plays a shot to Learner Tien of the United States in the Men's Singles Round of 32 match during day two of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 10, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images via AFP)
Marin Cilic of Croatia plays a shot to Learner Tien of the United States in the Men's Singles Round of 32 match during day two of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 10, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Cilic Says 600th Tour-Level Win Shows His Dedication to the Sport 

Marin Cilic of Croatia plays a shot to Learner Tien of the United States in the Men's Singles Round of 32 match during day two of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 10, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images via AFP)
Marin Cilic of Croatia plays a shot to Learner Tien of the United States in the Men's Singles Round of 32 match during day two of the 2026 Dallas Open at The Ford Center at The Star on February 10, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images via AFP)

Former US Open champion ‌Marin Cilic said that joining an elite club of players with at least 600 match wins on the ATP Tour was proof of his dedication to the sport after battling through several injury-ravaged seasons.

The 37-year-old, who has had two knee surgeries since 2023, downed American Learner Tien 7-5 7-6(4) at the Dallas Open on Tuesday to reach the milestone, putting him ‌second behind ‌Novak Djokovic (1,168 wins) among active players.

"It's ‌been ⁠so difficult these ⁠last couple of years, I was battling through many things," said Cilic, who also went past Croatian compatriot Goran Ivanisevic's career tally of 599 tour-level victories.

"Just to get to this level, playing this well against guys like ⁠Learner, who's an incredible player and ‌can have a fantastic ‌career, is just a joy.

"To get this milestone speaks ‌volumes about my dedication to tennis, living ‌in this sport for so many years. It's given me so much joy and I love it. It's fun to be out here still competing ‌and I can't be happier."

Cilic, who claimed his only Grand Slam trophy at ⁠Flushing ⁠Meadows in 2014, tore the lateral meniscus on his right knee in 2023 and underwent surgery. That was followed by another in 2024 following difficulties in his recovery.

The former world number three bounced back on the biggest stage by reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon last year and the third round of the Australian Open last month.

Cilic will face another American in Dallas with either Trevor Svajda or Ethan Quinn up next.


Spain Striker Aghehowa in Race to Be Fit for World Cup After Knee Injury 

Soccer Football - Primeira Liga - Casa Pia v FC Porto - Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior, Rio Maior, Portugal - February 2, 2026 FC Porto's Samu Aghehowa in action with Casa Pia's Kaly. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Primeira Liga - Casa Pia v FC Porto - Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior, Rio Maior, Portugal - February 2, 2026 FC Porto's Samu Aghehowa in action with Casa Pia's Kaly. (Reuters)
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Spain Striker Aghehowa in Race to Be Fit for World Cup After Knee Injury 

Soccer Football - Primeira Liga - Casa Pia v FC Porto - Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior, Rio Maior, Portugal - February 2, 2026 FC Porto's Samu Aghehowa in action with Casa Pia's Kaly. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Primeira Liga - Casa Pia v FC Porto - Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior, Rio Maior, Portugal - February 2, 2026 FC Porto's Samu Aghehowa in action with Casa Pia's Kaly. (Reuters)

Samu Aghehowa's ‌hopes of playing for Spain at the World Cup have suffered a massive blow after the 21-year-old suffered a serious knee injury playing for Portuguese side Porto and is expected to be sidelined for several months.

Aghehowa, who featured twice ‌for Spain ‌in their qualifying ‌campaign, ⁠is set to ⁠miss the rest of the season due to the anterior cruciate ligament injury, which he sustained in Porto's 1-1 draw with Sporting Lisbon on ⁠Monday.

With the World Cup ‌kicking off ‌in North America on June 11, ‌Aghehowa is unlikely to return ‌in time to earn a place in the Spain squad.

"I'll be out of action for a ‌few months," he wrote on social media.

"It hurts me ⁠not ⁠being able to help the team as I'd like, fighting on the field. Now I'm just another fan supporting us towards our goals," added Aghehowa, who joined Porto from Atletico Madrid in August 2024 and has scored 32 goals in 50 league games.


Milano Cortina Finds Fix for Medal Defects, Repairs Offered

Silver medalist Eric Perrot, of France, from left, gold medalist Johan-Olav Botn, of Norway, and bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, pose after the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP)
Silver medalist Eric Perrot, of France, from left, gold medalist Johan-Olav Botn, of Norway, and bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, pose after the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP)
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Milano Cortina Finds Fix for Medal Defects, Repairs Offered

Silver medalist Eric Perrot, of France, from left, gold medalist Johan-Olav Botn, of Norway, and bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, pose after the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP)
Silver medalist Eric Perrot, of France, from left, gold medalist Johan-Olav Botn, of Norway, and bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, pose after the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP)

A fix has been found to stop Milano Cortina Olympic medals from coming apart, and athletes will be able to return any damaged ones for repair, local organizers said on Tuesday.

The problems with the cherished medals have been one of the talking points of the opening days of competition at a Games that have otherwise run smoothly.

Local organizers investigated the medals mishaps with the Italian State Mint, which is responsible for producing them.

"A solution was identified and a targeted ‌intervention was ‌implemented," Milano Cortina 2026 Communications Director Luca Casassa ‌said, ⁠adding that ‌only a limited number of medals had suffered defects.

Athletes whose medals were affected could return them "so that they can be promptly repaired," he added.

"Milano Cortina 2026 confirms its commitment to ensuring that the medals, which symbolize the highest achievement in every athlete's career, meet the highest standards of quality and attention to detail."

PROBLEM WITH THE CLASP

Organizers did not specify what the problem was. ⁠However, a source close to the situation had suggested on Monday that the issue may stem ‌from the medal's clasp and ribbon, which is ‍fitted with a breakaway mechanism ‍required by law to avoid the risk of strangulation or other ‍injury.

That tallied with the experience of US Alpine skier Jacqueline Wiles, who won a bronze in the women's team combined on Tuesday and became the latest competitor to suffer a medal mishap.

Wiles said some boisterous celebrations were to blame.

"Some arms were swinging and I was jumping. And it got out of hand a little quickly. But that's OK. They ⁠fixed it already," she said.

A spokesperson for her team said the problem was with the clasp on her medal and she had been given a replacement.

Local organizers were very pleased with operations at the Games, spread over a wide area of northern Italy from Milan to a series of venues in the Alps.

"What we have found in these first four days is really encouraging, the stadiums and the competitions are often sold out, fan zones are full of people who are in a party mood and want to enjoy the Games' atmosphere," Casassa said.

"The feedback that we are getting ‌from the real protagonists, the athletes, at the moment is extremely positive," he added.