Josh Doig rekindles Celtic transfer interest as Kristoffer Ajer return route emerges
The former Hibs defender has been a long-term target for the Hoops
Kieran Tierney is only just in the door at Celtic Park but Brendan Rodgers is wasting no time targeting another left-back.
The Hoops have bolstered their backline by clinching a sensational return for fans' favourite KT from Arsenal on a five-year deal.
Tierney, 28, will be one of the first names on Celtic's team sheet as the Scotland international rejoins his boyhood club at his prime.
However, the defender's injury record coupled with Greg Taylor's likely exit, means that Celts are in the market for cover.
And multiple reports have suggested that the Scottish champions are set to revive their interest in ex- Hibs starlet Josh Doig.
Doig, 23, left Easter Road for Serie A side Hellas Verona in a £3million transfer back in 2022 and instantly caught the eye in Italy.
After a dream switch to Marseille collapsed at the 11th hour, Doig joined Sassuolo for £5m in January 2024 but couldn't save the club from relegation.
However, the full-back was a key figure in helping Sassuolo land promotion from Serie B at the first time of asking, making 31 appearances.
Doig has been on Celtic's transfer radar since he first broke through at Hibs and now, it's claimed that the Double-winners are weighing up an offer.
Meanwhile former Treble hero Kristoffer Ajer has been told to find another club by Norway manager Stale Solbakken, according to Sky Sports.
The towering stopper, 27, endured an injury-hit campaign for Brentford, starting just twice since the March international break.
Under contract until 2028, Ajer may feel he'll be given a clean slate by his next boss as Thomas Frank prepares to take over Tottenham.
Ajer - who lifted nine major honours at Parkhead - left Celtic for the Bees in a £13.5m switch four years ago.
The 43-times capped star made his big career breakthrough under Rodgers and his potential availability has set tongues wagging amongst the green-and-white faithful.
Elsewhere, Record Sport understands Celtic are keeping close tabs on Lennon Miller's situation and were in contact with the Motherwell board in the last window.
The Scotland new boy has been linked with a list of European clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt and Royal Union St Gilloise and the Steelman have already turfed out bids from Udinese and Gilloise.
It's believed Celtic have also scouted Hearts' James Penrice, but won't necessarily pursue a deal for the left-back.
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26 minutes ago
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Scotsman
35 minutes ago
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McManus sees more than just a left-back with return of Tierney to Celtic Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It's not often a Scottish football club lands the complete package football signing for free, but there is a strong argument for such a scenario in the case of Celtic and Kieran Tierney. The Scotland defender's return to Celtic, six years after leaving for Arsenal, was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon. Tierney has penned a five-year contract with his boyhood club and his return has been warmly welcomed by all of a Celtic persuasion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The left-back won his 50th cap for Scotland against Iceland earlier this month and comes back to Glasgow with experience of the English Premier League with the Gunners, plus a season on loan with Real Sociedad in La Liga. He is comfortable playing as a centre-half these days and, as Celtic B coach Stephen McManus points out, has plenty of miles left to put on the clock. Kieran Tierney has returned to Celtic on a five-year deal. | SNS Group 'Listen, it's massive,' McManus said of Tierney's homecoming. 'The biggest thing is the age that he's at, coming back. It's not as if he's coming back with two years to go within his career. He's still got his full career ahead of him, which is great. You look at the knowledge that he's then gained, being at Arsenal, being away, playing in major tournaments now for Scotland as well. I think it's brilliant. I think it's really, really good. The fact that he's coming and hopefully he's got a good few years ahead of him. He can stay fit and he can bring his personality and his quality to not just the football team, but to the whole football club.' McManus – a true leader in the Celtic teams he played in and now a coach of youngsters – knows a thing or two about setting examples. He believes the influence Tierney can have on the dressing-room as well as on the pitch is just as important to manager Brendan Rodgers. 'It's probably one of the biggest things once you become that kind of experienced player,' continued McManus, speaking to promote Celtic's friendly with Newcastle United next month. 'When you're young and you're developing and you're playing, you play with no fear, but then the older you get, you start to then take interest in a lot more of what goes on around the football club. How you conduct yourself on the pitch, how you conduct yourself off the pitch, especially a club like here, it becomes really important. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Celtic captain-in-waiting 'You can see that with Callum [McGregor], you can see that with James [Forrest], the ones that have come through the academy structure here for a long period of time. They're very similar in their personalities and that's really important. Kieran's going to then bring that as well. Again, he's younger than the other two boys, so it's going to be a massive, massive bonus not just for the football club, but also for the national team as well.' McManus accepts the notion that Celtic have another captain-in-waiting in Tierney. 'You never know what's around the corner,' he said. 'I think if Callum doesn't play for whatever reason, there's somebody that's got the personality, he's got the profile, he's got the ability. But like I said, it's just a brilliant signing for the football club because he brings so much on the pitch and so much off the pitch. 'You need people that know the football club to take it on to the next level because you're always educating the next ones that then come. But first and foremost, Kieran's a top, top footballer. He's not coming back because he's a Celtic fan. I think that's important as well. He's coming back because he's a top, top footballer and he's going to bring his experiences, his knowledge and his qualities so that he can then help our football club move forward.' Even at the relatively tender age of 28, Tierney is now the fourth oldest player in the current squad. 'Your job once you become an experienced player is to educate the younger ones and that's when you speak of the business model of the football club,' added McManus. 'What's the recruitment strategy? What does it look like? So Kieran fits that bill because, again, he knows the club but he's a fantastic footballer and his best years are still ahead of him.
