Rodgers not waiting until summer to play Tierney card

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says a move for Arsenal's Kieran Tierney will "definitely happen" in the summer but he is trying to bring him in before next week’s transfer window shuts.

Tierney has been in talks over a pre-contract agreement ahead of an emotional return to Celtic Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

But, with loanee Alex Valle back at parent club Barcelona, Rodgers would like the left-back to return north of the border before next week’s transfer deadline.

"He’s still, at this moment, an Arsenal player," the former Liverpool and Leicester boss said ahead of Celtic’s final Champions League league phase game at Aston Villa.

"I think we’re agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great.

"I think that, like I said, we prepared that for the summer. I don’t want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he’s not a Celtic player here now with us.

"But if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that’s out of our control at this moment in time."

Rodgers confirmed Valle would not play for the Hoops again after his loan ended.

"Alex won’t play again. Sadly he’s in Barcelona at the moment and he will probably then move on to another team," he added.

"Another young player that’s contributed really well for us, played nearly 20 appearances for us, played in some very important games, makes his Champions League debut.

"So we’re disappointed that he’s left, but we have to move on."

Valle’s exit comes after Kyogo Furuhashi joined Rennes, with Rodgers calling him an "iconic player for the club".

"He’s been a real iconic player for the club, he’s done brilliantly during his time," he said.

"It’s about getting a replacement, he did a