Ex-Celtic striker Kenny Miller believes that the size of the transfer fee could prevent Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney from returning to Parkhead in the near future.

The defender is expected to leave the Emirates at the end of the season and, while Miller believes the player would be keen on making the switch back to Glasgow, there are potential stumbling blocks in the way of the move:

“As an outsider looking in, I think he would love a return to Celtic. It’s just a case of how does that happen? The transfer fee is the issue there. I genuinely don’t think the wages would stop it, because I think Kieran would understand the situation and would accept that he’d have to drop his wages, probably considerably, to get that move.”

“Arsenal paid £25 million for him and I believe he’s still got a couple of years left on his contract, so that’s where the problem would come. Would there be a potential for a loan deal for a year or two? Maybe.”

Tierney has had an injury-ravaged spell in Spain

The left-back has spent this campaign on loan at Real Sociedad but he has only started 11 league games due to fitness problems, having been sidelined with hamstring issues on two separate occasions.

That may actually help Celtic, though, as other clubs will be reluctant to spend a sizeable fee on him due to the risk of injury.

A loan deal looks like the most realistic option

As Miller suggests, the Scottish champions are unlikely to have the funds to match Arsenal’s valuation of the player.

It may be the case that, if Tierney hasn’t found a new team by the end of next summer, the Hoops may swoop in and offer to take him on loan.

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