
Will Celtic sign another Premier League superstar?
Kieran Tierney has already returned to Parkhead this summer, following in the footsteps of manager Brendan Rodgers and Jota, who’ve also both re-joined the club in recent times.
Now, could another boyhood Celtic fan fulfil his dreams of wearing the famous green and white hoops?
Celtic targeting another statement signing
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Celtic are ‘interested’ in signing Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson, while admitting that ‘financial constraints’ would prove to be a stumbling block.
The Scotland captain is widely expected to depart Merseyside this summer, with David Ornstein and Mario Cortegana of the Athletic documenting Atlético Madrid’s interest, given that the Reds are targeting Bournemouth’s Miloš Kerkez, who they view as an upgrade.
Robertson, who was in Celtic’s academy between the ages of nine and 15, has always been open about his desire to represent the Hoops one day, admitting that “Celtic was my life” growing up, adding that he’d “love to pull on the Celtic top and walk out at Parkhead” one day.
So, could this move really come to fruition this summer?
How Andy Robertson compares to Kieran Tierney
It is all change in terms of Celtic left-backs this summer.
Greg Taylor is highly likely to depart following the expiration of his contract. PAOK are the latest European club interested in securing his services, while it’s not yet clear if Jeffrey Schlupp will be staying, following a brief loan spell.
Meantime, Tierney has of course returned but, as has been an interminable debate surrounding the national team for nigh on a decade, is he better than Robertson?
Let’s attempt to find out.
Tierney vs Robertson 2024/25 comparison |
||
---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tierney |
Robertson |
Appearances |
20 |
45 |
Minutes |
447 |
3,320 |
Pass completion % |
79.8% |
83.0% |
Interceptions |
0.2 |
0.6 |
Tackles |
0.5 |
1.2 |
Clearances |
0.7 |
1.3 |
Ball recoveries |
2.2 |
3.8 |
Ground duel success % |
71% |
50% |
Touches |
72.5 |
76.9 |
Stats from Transfermarkt, FBref & Squawka. |
First things first, due to injuries and the fact he was not first-choice at Arsenal, Tierney played fewer than 500 minutes of club football this season, which does offer a very small sample size.
That caveat aside, Robertson’s per-90 statistics are still pretty much more impressive across the board.
When he was still Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp described Robertson as a “world-class left-back”, while José Enrique, a former incumbent of the Reds’ full-back spot, asserts that he has been “the best left-back in the world” for many years.
Now though, James Pearce and Mark Carey of the Athletic outline that the Scotland captain’s form ‘has come under intense scrutiny’ this season, while also asserting that he is far from ‘finished at the highest level’.
Robertson still ranked 17th in the Premier League this season for crosses into the penalty area, as well as 11th for crosses overall, according to FBref.com, an attribute that has been viewed as his superpower for many years.
Gillian Kasirye of Total Football Analysis claims that Robertson is ‘passed their peak’, but still has a lot to offer at the elite level, so could he really be tempted to make a move to Glasgow this summer?
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Hoops supporters could absolutely love this.