Brendan Rodgers says Kieran Tierney move 'will definitely take place in the summer'

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says a move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney will “definitely happen” in the summer but he is trying to bring him in before next week’s transfer window shuts.

Tierney has been in talks over a pre-contract agreement ahead of an emotional return to Celtic Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

But, with loanee Alex Valle back at parent club Barcelona, Rodgers would like the left-back to return north of the border before next week’s transfer deadline.

“He’s still, at this moment, an Arsenal player,” the former Liverpool and Leicester boss said ahead of Celtic’s final Champions League league phase game at Aston Villa.

“I think we’re agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great.

“I think that, like I said, we prepared that for the summer. I don’t want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he’s not a Celtic player here now with us.

“But if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that’s out of our control at this moment in time.”

Rodgers confirmed Valle would not play for the Hoops again after his loan ended.

“Alex won’t play again. Sadly he’s in Barcelona at the moment and he will probably then move on to another team,” he added.

“Another young player that’s contributed really well for us, played nearly 20 appearances for us, played in some very important games, makes his Champions League debut.

“So we’re disappointed that he’s left, but we have to move on.”

Valle’s exit comes after Kyogo Furuhashi joined Rennes, with Rodgers calling him an “iconic player for the club”.

“He’s been a real iconic player for the club, he’s done brilliantly during his time,” he said.

“It’s about getting a replacement, he did a great job, he wanted to leave.

“We have known for a number of months. Clearly we wouldn’t have wanted to sell him but he made it clear he wanted to move and when that’s the case, we have to find the best solution for the club.

“The club will work very hard to find a solution.”

Celtic head to Villa Park knowing they are guaranteed a spot in the play-off round after last week’s late win over Young Boys.

“It’s a great achievement to be in the top 24, I think, if you look at the economics at this level,” Rodgers added.

“But for the players, they’ve been fantastic. They’ve stayed with the idea. They’ve worked very, very hard and do what we set out to do, which was to firstly arrive in the play-offs, the players have done that. So it’s great.

“But our job’s not complete in this series of eight games. We come here to a great venue. It’s a fantastic team, but we want to come and and play to the level that we know we can do.

“So we’re really looking forward to a battle.”

Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss the game with a knock.