Celtic, despite many ups and downs, maintained their supremacy and secured an eighth successive Premiership title defeating Aberdeen 3-0 on Saturday afternoon. The Hoops, under Neil Lennon, are closing in on a historic ‘treble treble’, but at the same time should be concerned over the future of an array of key names amid a potential mass exodus upon completion of the ongoing campaign.
Many would be out of contract once the season reaches its conclusion while a few are expected to return to their parent clubs after completing their loan stints. Also, according to the Daily Star, Kieran Tierney’s days were supposed to be numbered at the Parkhead amid reports of a potential £30m switch to Leicester City to reunite with Brendan Rodgers.
Manchester City were rumoured to bid £60m for the Foxes fullback Ben Chilwell as an alternative to injury-riddled Benjamin Mendy. Tierney was being lined up as the Englishman’s replacement at King Power, but the latest report from the Manchester Evening News indicates that Pep Guardiola is yet to give up on Mendy despite two difficult years in Manchester.
The emergence of Oleksandr Zinchenko suggests that a new left-back will not be prioritised in the summer and Chilwell is likely to continue his progress in the East Midlands under the ex-Hoops gaffer. This would relieve the supporters both at Leicester as well as Celtic, the latter in particular who are highly reliant on the 21-year-old down the flank.
Tierney, a regular for his country at the senior level, is also undergoing an injury-hit season and set for surgery after the Scottish Cup final. But he has been an influence whenever on the pitch and the club does not have an alternative lined up to cope up in his absence. Emilio Izaguirre, 32, is not the same player he used to be and the deployment of Jonny Hayes in a makeshift fullback role does not provide a solution either.
Although the Bhoys would receive an astronomical sum if Tierney is sold, they might have to struggle to detect someone who could inject a similar impact instantly.
The home-grown prodigy has already made more than 150 senior appearances for his boyhood side and should continue for a couple of years more before experiencing a greater challenge in the English top tier. Lennon would hope that things remain as it is and the Scotsman continues to entertain the football world in Celtic Colours.
