Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is reportedly close to an emotional return to Celtic.
The Scot joined the Gunners from Celtic in 2019 after coming through the ranks at his boyhood club.
The left-back established himself well in the Emirates, making 27 Premier League appearances in the 2020/21 season, 22 in the 2021/22 season and 27 the following year.
But he was loaned out to Real Sociedad last season as Mikel Arteta wanted to take his side to the next level and instead favored the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior.
This season he has been plagued by a hamstring injury suffered in the opening match of Scotland's 2024 European Championship season, but he returned to fitness last month.
The 27-year-old started Arsenal's EFL Cup win over Crystal Palace before making cameos against Manchester United, Tottenham and Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
Tierney has less than six months left on his Arsenal contract and the date for the Gunners to add an extra 12 months to his spell has passed.
As reported by the Telegraph, the defender is close to agreeing a provisional contract with Celtic.
Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla and Juventus were interested in signing Tierney on a free transfer, alongside Everton.
However, Tierney turned them all down in favor of a return to Celtic Park from next season.
He came through the Celtic Academy and helped the side to four Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup.
Tierney played 170 games for Celtic before leaving for the Emirates six years ago.
Since returning from injury, Mikel Arteta has used Tierney in an attacking role, with the Arsenal boss recently saying: 'He's playing to his strengths. That's something we have to keep learning because they give you a lot of information.
“They tell you, not sometimes with their words, but with a lot of information, what they feel more comfortable with and there is certainly a much better match for him.”
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