Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE MIGHT BE FORCED TO SELL FAMILY SILVER!
Rodgers: Money will talk on whether Tierney goes
BRENDAN RODGERS last night confessed Celtic and Kieran Tierney will have a “decision to make” if Everton push on with a £20million-plus bid.
And the Parkhead boss has reluctantly admitted he can’t guarantee keeping his prized asset if an “astronomical fee” is offered for the talented 21-year-old.
Everton are weighing up a move for Tierney after new Goodison manager Marco Silva identified him as a potential long-term successor to Leighton Baines.
The defender signed a new six-year deal with the champions last October but it’s understood the Toffees are ready to test the water. While Rodgers hasn’t received a concrete offer at this stage, he admits Celtic-daft Tierney and the club could have a major dilemma on their hands if a huge offer is made.
Rodgers said: “It will be down to the club in the end. If an astronomical fee comes in for a player and he has wages to match that, the transfer window can dictate he may have to go.
“Of course, we want to keep our players. Ideally they wouldn’t go but I can never say realistically that everyone will definitely stay because the club may get an offer they can’t refuse.
“Kieran’s happy and loves being at Celtic. He can only wait and, if something concrete comes in, he may have a decision to make along with the club.
“I’ll always give him advice but ultimately it’ll then be down to him and the club.
“That is always going to be the difficult one for Kieran because he genuinely is Celtic-daft.
“You see his passion and love but football is a harsh business. That’s what it is.
“It’s a business where the career is very short and, if he can earn four or five times the money he’s on at Celtic, then who am I to say not to do it?”