Arsenal are still yet to confirm any incoming or outgoing transfers in the winter 2025 window but one player might announce their departure in only the next seven days.
So far the only transfer activity at Arsenal this month has been the return of Marquinhos to London Colney following the conclusion of his loan spell at Fluminense. The Brazilian joined the Rio de Janeiro club in the winter window one year ago and fired two goals in 29 outings.
Yet while Marquinhos made his way back through the entrance door at London Colney, one Arsenal player is thinking about a future away from Emirates Stadium. Talks to secure a deal are even gathering a lot of speed after Arsenal made their position on his future very clear.
Celtic hope to confirm Kieran Tierney’s return from Arsenal in the next seven days
The player in question is Kieran Tierney, who The Scottish Sun reports Celtic hope to confirm in the next seven days has agreed a free summer transfer from Arsenal to return to Glasgow. The Hoops are pushing full steam ahead with the 27-year-old out of contract come June 30.
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Celtic are keen to wrap up a pre-contract agreement that sees Tierney return to Parkhead in light of Arsenal deciding against taking up an option to extend his contract by 12 months. He is also now free to speak to foreign clubs, so Celtic fear the threat of facing any competition.
What is working in the Bhoys’ favour as Celtic hold talks with Tierney about his free transfer from Arsenal is that it has long been his desire to return to the Premiership giants. Now, the defender may see that dream realised as Brendan Rodgers marked Tierney as his top target.
Kieran Tierney could make Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta regret his words
Tierney agreeing to a pre-contract with Celtic for his return from Arsenal in a free transfer could also make Mikel Arteta regret his recent words about the 46-cap Scotland defender’s future. But Tierney has only featured once since returning from his loan with Real Sociedad.
Speaking only in December, Arteta admitted Tierney previously asked to leave Arsenal. But the Gunners boss stated that he believed the left-back was committed not only to playing in north London but also staying at Emirates Stadium despite rarely getting a sight of the pitch.
“He hasn’t come to me and said, ‘I want to leave’,” Arteta noted just before Christmas about Tierney’s situation. “When in the past we had any doubts, he came to me and said, ‘I think it’s my time to move’. This hasn’t been the case yet.”
Arteta has previously backed Tierney to give Arsenal a ‘special’ presence from left-back. But the Spaniard has seldom seen the Scotland star shine in red throughout Arteta’s tenure with the Gunners. Instead, Tierney has slipped further and further down Arsenal’s pecking order.
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