Brendan Rodgers hopes to push through a deal to bring Kieran Tierney to Celtic in before the end of the January transfer window, after confirming that a deal has been agreed for the former Hoops hero to come back to his boyhood club this summer.

It is the first time that Rodgers has confirmed that a pre-contract agreement to bring Tierney back to Glasgow has been sealed, but with on-loan Barcelona youngster Alex Valle being recalled ahead of a potential move to Como, the Celtic manager is keen to accelerate Tierney’s signing if at all possible.

When asked if Valle’s exit would hasten the return of Tierney, Rodgers said: “Ideally, it would.

“But at this moment he’s still an Arsenal player. So, I think everyone would agree that that will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great.

“I don't know. I think that, like I said, we'd prepared that for the summer. And 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.”

While Rodgers was candid on Celtic’s interest in Tierney, he said he knew nothing of Norwegian media reports linking the club with a move for Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter.

“I'm not aware of that,” he said.

“I'm not aware of that at all, so…yeah, I don't know.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers admitted that he would have loved to have brought John McGinn to Celtic prior to his move to Aston Villa from Hibernian, but praised the midfielder for the career he has built for himself in England as he looked forward to seeing him in action against his side tomorrow night.

“I was very keen in taking John to Celtic,” he said.

“But listen, the move has worked out brilliant for him.

“Obviously, Steve (Bruce) was in charge at the time, they were in the Championship, but he was coming to a massive club, a great club.

“And they then got themselves out of the Championship. And he's really thrived in the environment here. And I'm so pleased for him, because like I said, the Celtic move was nearly there.

“But he's come down to England and he's been absolutely brilliant for Aston Villa. So, I see he's just back fit, so he may play a part in the game tomorrow. But no, he's been a real instrumental player from what I see on the pitch. “And obviously off the pitch, he's got some strong character and I'm sure he's really influenced the club.”

Cameron Carter-Vickers will not play at Villa Park after picking up a minor knock, but should be fit to face Motherwell on Sunday.