BACKGROUND

Kieran Tierney is widely considered to be one of the brightest prospects around at the left back position, and enough reason for Celtic to ink the player to a new six-year deal at the beginning of last season.

However, according to the Daily Mail, Everton are going to test the Hoops’ resolve with a bid in the £25million range, a number that the Scottish club put up and that the Toffees apparently seem happy to pay for the youngster. The article goes on to say that new manager Marco Silva has made signing the left back a priority, something which Blues had been crying out for last summer when Ronald Koeman was still in charge.

In another piece in the Herald, Celtics manager (and former Liverpool boss) Brendan Rodgers notes that he would have a really hard time keeping hold of Tierney should the Blues make an official bid.

“I’ve worked in the Premier League and I know the development he could have there. That is always going to be the difficult one for Kieran because he genuinely is Celtic-daft. You see his passion and love, but football is a harsh business. That’s what it is.

“It’s a business where the career is very, very short and if he can go and earn four or five times the money he’s on at Celtic, then who am I to say not to do it.

“You look at the example of John Kennedy. An absolute star in the making, playing in a really good team at a young age and in his first international game he gets his leg shattered.

“That’s his football life done, really. He tried his socks off to get back, but his career was done. That’s the other side of it.

“It’s one where I want to develop Kieran the best I possibly can with the coaches and make him the best he can be, but there’s also a moral side to it as well and how can you deny a boy that?”

PLAYER PROFILE

The 21-year-old made 55 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring four times and adding eleven assists, having featured 40 times the previous season with two goals and twelve assists the previous season.

Despite his tender years, Tierney has picked up quite a bit of Champions League experience already and appears ready for the big leagues and the Premier League spotlight. He also has nine international caps for the Scotland senior side, where he’s primarily played as right back due to the emergence of Liverpool’s left back Andy Robertson.

Celtic saw enough already to hand the player a big contract last season, but Tierney is evidently made for greater things than staying in Scotland.

More from Rodgers on Tierney -

“If he leaves Celtic, he’ll only be going to a top-class club.

“Of course, I would want him to be here for as long as I am here, but my job is to maximise the talent and make and all of the players the best they can be.

“It’s also a great sign of where these players have gone to. You look at them and top clubs would want these players. In terms of development, it’s great for Kieran.”

EVERTON ANGLE

OH MY GOD SIGN HIM ALREADY.

Calm down. Breathe.

Everton desperately need a left back for the future, and Tierney is perfect to learn from the incumbent Leighton Baines. The Scotsman can spell him this season, and pick up the finer points from one of the gentlemen of the game, and eventually replace him.

The Blues have been linked with two Bundesliga left backs already this summer - Marvin Plattenhardt (link) and Wendell (link), so it’s clear that Marcel Brands is not going to repeat the mistake Steve Walsh made last summer.

So despite all the Celtics fans protestations about the size of their club and the trophies they’ve won, they remain a big fish in a minuscule pond and Tierney will exit the Bhoys whether they like it or not, sooner than later.