Former Celtic defender Mark Wilson has claimed that it is inevitable that the Hoops will receive a bid for Kieran Tierney this summer but insisted they can demand as much as £20million for his sale.
The left back has established himself as one of, if not the, best defenders in Scotland, starring for both club and country, and his performances have earned him plenty of links with a move south of the border.
Predicting that there would be a hunt for his capture this coming transfer window, Wilson says that the Hoops have made mistakes in the past over how much they have sold their stars for and insists that they will have learned to demand a premium for their top star.
He was quoted by the Evening Times as saying: “There will be a bid (from) someone down the line this summer for Kieran Tierney. He has proved himself for a good number of years now. Clubs may just think: ‘Okay, this is the year we go and do it’. Whether it is Leicester or some other club, I don’t know.
“For a full-back just now I’d say you’re talking at least £15m. Over £15m would also be possible. It’s very difficult to put a price on it. Until somebody puts an offer in for him then who knows? What Celtic have sold players for in the past has maybe been lower than they could’ve got.
“I think Celtic are wiser now. You can get away with selling strikers for £19-20m. He’s certainly been up there in Scotland for a number of years. So why can’t he go down there and demand a £15-20m price tag?”
Opinion
It is only a matter of time before Tierney leaves Celtic for pastures new but instead of viewing it as a betrayal and a disappointment, the Hoops faithful should accept that it means they have produced yet another top quality talent through their youth academy. He is destined for the very top and will continue to serve his country for another decade at least. Regardless of where he ends up in terms of a new club, he will always go down a hero among the Bhoys and if the Parkhead chiefs can get a fee of around £20million for his sale it would be a massive deal. It all depends on which club are signing him up – the Hoops well within their rights to demand more from Manchester United or Tottenham than if Leicester come calling – and maybe doing what they can to ignite a bidding war when his exit is near would be in the club’s best interests.