Liverpool have faced a lot of troubles with the left-back position as Alberto Moreno lacks that defensive strength and Jon Flanagan is recovering in terms of his form due to his long-term absence from the game. Jurgen Klopp will certainly want to strengthen his squad with full-back options especially for the left side. And the latest player under his scouting radar is the 18-year-old full-back from Celtic – Kieran Tierney.
Who is Kieran Tierney
The Celtic starlet made his debut in April 2015 and since then he has produced consistent performances for his club. Tierney managed to make 26 appearances across all competitions and also got a call to represent his national side. The youngster has managed to impress many footballing experts and former players. This is what the boss of Celtic FC – Ronny Deila had to say for the youngster.
“Kieran can go all the way. He can play at the highest level if he continues to develop. He needs to improve all the time and to do that he has to play. He has been playing here now consistently for seven months, he’s in a very good situation, playing for his national team and in Europe for a big club.”
Former Celtic player Darren O’Dea is very impressed by the abilities of Tierney and this is what he had to say about the prodigy.
“He’s handled everything really well. I like him –he’s a seven or eight every week. He’s not doing anything remarkably special. But that’s the sign of a good player at that age. He’s already got that in his game which is remarkable.”
Why Liverpool
The left-back position has been a reason for Klopp to worry this season and it is definitely in his priority list for summer. Tierney is a raw talent and needs proper nurturing and guidance to develop his game. The youngster has pace, can deliver crosses inside the danger zone and is also good when it comes to interceptions. Tierney is not that strong when it comes to tackling and winning balls in the air and this aspect certainly needs improvement. Klopp might consider him as a future player and give him the occasional starts.
The Celtic star is valued in around £10m and this could be an ideal budget for Jurgen Klopp to make a transfer approach. Having said that, Liverpool have also considered other options for the left-back role with the likes of Jonas Hector from FC Cologne and Jetro Willems from PSG.
