Celtic eyeing £5m star who “seems like Ronaldo”

Will Kieran Tierney‘s return be simply the beginning of one other busy summer time at Celtic?

On Tuesday, the Parkhead facet formally confirmed the left-back’s return to Glasgow, six years after he departed for £25m, which stays a joint-club document sale.

Regardless of this, the Scottish Premiership champions wish to bolster their full-back choices additional, presumably anticipating a departure, so may Brendan Rodgers‘ facet be shut to a different arrival?

Celtic chasing one other defender after Tierney

Introduced to supporters earlier this week, Tierney arrived again at Celtic with a degree to show. He was sporting a beaming smile and we’re positive Rodgers was too. Talking in regards to the deal, the Northern Irishman stated:

“We’re delighted to welcome Kieran again to Celtic. He’s such a gifted, high-quality participant and he might be a large addition to our squad. Kieran has all the time had Celtic in his blood and he’s excited to be coming again to the place he loves.”

That stated, he is not the one left-back who may arrive this summer time.

In keeping with a report by journalist Ben Jacobs, Celtic are ” in a transfer to signal defender Josh Doig.

Nonetheless solely 23 years previous, the full-back made his senior debut at Hibernian in 2020, accumulating 78 appearances for Hibs, earlier than transferring to Italy in 2022.

He spent two seasons at Hellas Verona, that includes 16 instances in Serie A after which 29 instances in Serie B following I Gialloblù’s relegation, earlier than becoming a member of Sassuolo for a reported £5m in January 2024, a key determine as I Neroverdi gained the second-tier title in Italy this season; solely 4 of his teammate racked up extra league minutes.

So now, may the teenager, who additionally made his senior Scotland debut towards Liechtenstein at Rheinpark Stadion on Monday, be heading and becoming a member of the Premiership champions?

How Josh Doig compares to Greg Taylor

In accordance to reviews in Greece, PAOK have submitted an official supply to Greg Taylor, whereas Dinamo Zagreb have beforehand been famous as involved in securing the left-back’s signature.

Taylor joined Celtic from Kilmarnock in 2019, signed as Tierney’s direct substitute, and has made 216 appearances for the membership, however is out of contract on the finish of this month, and it appears extraordinarily unlikely that he’ll signal an extension.

Callum McFadden of Breaking the Strains praises Taylor’s ‘consistency’, labelling him a ‘mainstay’ within the Celtic back-line throughout his six seasons on the membership and, whereas Samuel Hutchinson of Whole Soccer Evaluation is impressed by his ‘reliability’, each by way of efficiency and availability, they perceive why the arrival of Tierney is considered as an improve.

Nonetheless, Tierney has struggled for health all through the whole lot of his profession, so a reliable back-up within the type of Doig is required.

Jack Ross, who handed Doig his senior debut at Hibs, praised his “glorious” performances again in 2020. Since then, his recreation has reached an entire new stage since making the transfer to Italy, scoring three objectives and posting seven assists. That is not dangerous going for a defender, notably as he solely ever scored as soon as for Hibs.

Mark Atkinson of the Scotsman believes that his ‘tempo, physique and athleticism’ are his major attributes, making him very very similar to Tierney in that regard, but additionally like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sure, that was the view of former Hibs teammate Lewis Stevenson, who stated in 2022: “He hasthe potential to go to the highest stage. He’s 6 foot 3, quick, robust. Even simply taking a look at him together with his prime off – with out that means to sound creepy – he seems like Ronaldo, with that sort of physique. He simply is an athlete.”

So, let’s analyse how he compares to Taylor this season.

Because the desk exhibits, Taylor does come out on prime for a number of metrics, however Doig’s statistics are comparable throughout the board, notably racking up extra clearances and ball recoveries, in addition to successful the next share of aerial duels, suggesting he’d shore up the defence.

Additionally, based on International Soccer Rankings, the teenager was doing his work at the next stage, with Serie B rated the nineteenth strongest league on the planet, whereas the Scottish Premiership is down at forty third.

Nonetheless solely 23 years previous, there may be loads of time for Doig to get higher and, given Tierney’s harm document, ought to he arrive at Parkhead, there can be loads of minutes out there to him, if he chooses to swap inexperienced and black stripes for inexperienced and white hoops.

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