Last month, BBC reported that Everton had ended their interest in Celtic and Scotland defender, Kieran Tierney. The Toffees were in the market for a long-term replacement for Leighton Baines, 33, at left-back. The 21-year-old is one of the rising forces in European football and he could have been the ideal solution for Everton‘s woes.
However, Celtic were reluctant to sell the Scotland international (h/t BBC). Tierney’s contract with the Scottish Champions runs until the summer of 2023. The BBC report further states that player himself had shown no desire to leave Celtic Park as the Hoops got their European campaign underway. Everton eventually turned their attention elsewhere in the market and wrapped up a £18million deal for Lucas Digne from Spanish giants Barcelona.
Digne, who has played for Lille, PSG, Roma (on-loan) and Barcelona, has 21 caps by France. He struggled to get a starting berth ahead of Jordi Alba in Camp Nou. In fact, over the two seasons Digne played for Barcelona, he managed a total of 29 La Liga appearances. That was four games less than the 33 Serie A appearances he made for AS Roma in just one season in 2015/16.
Things had somewhat worsened as Digne made just 12 La Liga appearances last season. He could only manage to get into the standby list as France went on to win the World Cup in Russia.
On the contrary, Tierney’s game time has been increasing since his breakthrough from Celtic’s academy in 2014/15. Last season, he enjoyed a personal career-best season. In fact, he was an ever-present vital player for the Hoops as they won an unprecedented double treble. During that time, Tierney also chipped in with five goals. At 21, his game time and performances are only likely to keep improving.
Coming back to Digne, he is a specialist left-back. Of the 20 times he played last season, he featured 18 times as a left-back, once as a left midfielder and once as a centre-back. In comparison, Tierney is more versatile. A natural left-back, he can also play in left midfield or as a centre-back. He made 34 appearances at left-back, 14 at left midfield and 5 times as a centre-back.
Tierney has made over 130 appearances for The Bhoys across all competitions. He had previously stated his wish to play his entire career at Celtic. Tierney is an all-action, swaggering, left-footed defender. He is a tenacious tackler who never wastes a chance to surge forward.
A good passer and reader of the game, he can deliver pinpoint crosses from the left. By opting not to sign Kieran Tierney, Everton have certainly committed a blunder. He would have not only been a solution for the present but also the future.
