Kieran Tierney sees new Celtic return roadblock thrown in his way as wages just one transfer issue

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If Kieran Tierney is to leave Arsenal this January, then Alan Hutton isn't convinced Celtic can offer him what he really needs.

The Scotland star is due to make his comeback from injury next month after seeing his Euro 2024 campaign ended prematurely by a nasty hamstring issue. Mikel Arteta has earmarked the Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Crystal Palace in December as a game to give Tierney some minutes.

However, a return to fitness doesn't necessarily mean he'll be back in the fold and being sidelined in the summer scuppered a likely departure form the Emirates. An emotional homecoming to Celtic keeps being mentioned and fans were sent into a frenzy when Tierney was snapped deep in conversation with Brendan Rodgers during the club's charity gala dinner in London. A loan move is seen as the Hoops' most realistic chance of bringing him back given the wages they would have to pay for a permanent transfer, but Hutton sees other roadblocks currently in Tierney's way.

"I've always said that KT is one of the best players to have come out of Scotland, and at Celtic, he outgrew them at one stage," Hutton told BestBettingSites. "The big money move came, it was inevitable that it was going to happen. It just didn't quite work for him at Arsenal.

"I was gutted for him because I really thought he could kick on and be there for a long period of time. He's definitely got that mentality, the winning mentality that you need to be a world-class player.

"The question mark that's always going to be there is the injury side of it. It's a real shame. That's obviously a problem, and it didn't help him at Arsenal. Moving forward, I think if he is going to leave Arsenal, it has to be to a club where he's going to play regularly. First and foremost, stay fit and play regular football."

Hutton is uncertain will sign another left-back, though he fails to take into account Greg Taylor has still to sign a new contract and will likely leave in the summer. He added: "At this moment in time, Celtic are linked, and I'm not so sure about that. They have got two left backs at the club. I think they could afford to take him, wages could be a problem, but if they can keep going in the Champions League, then they could probably find the finances to make a deal work.

"For him, mentally, it's about staying fit and playing regular football. If he can get back to that, there's no question he's an outstanding footballer. At 27, he's still got a lot to give, especially in the Premier League. He's more than capable of playing at that level for a sustained period of time, so it has to be where he's going to get minutes.

"He can't go to a team and not play. That's not going to be great for him, so if he can get a move like that, he can kick on again."

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