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."



Salah Penalty Seals Victory for Premier League Leader Liverpool against Wolverhampton

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 16, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 16, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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Salah Penalty Seals Victory for Premier League Leader Liverpool against Wolverhampton

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 16, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 16, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Liverpool restored its seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win against Wolverhampton on Sunday.

But Arne Slot's team had to hold off a fightback from relegation-threatened Wolves at Anfield, which included a brilliant long-range goal from Matheus Cunha.

First-half strikes from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah secured the win for Liverpool and ensured it maintained its advantage over second-placed Arsenal.

Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target after the break as Wolves dominated the chances.

Diaz bundled the ball over the line from close range in the 15th minute to give the home team the lead. And Salah doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 37th after Diaz was brought down.

It was the Egypt international's 28th goal of an outstanding season.

But if the home crowd was expecting a routine victory against Wolves, it was anything but.

Cunha's drag-back and curled finish from around 20 yards (meters) in the 67th came after a sustained period of pressure from the visitors.

Before that Marshall Munetsi was denied when through on goal — it took a crucial block in front of goal from Jarell Quansah to prevent him from converting late on.