However, in the present, all three—including Taylor, who joined PAOK this summer on a free pass—are no longer there.

After his contract at Arsenal expired at the end of June, Kieran Tierney returned to his boyhood club, making him Celtic’s legitimate left-back.

Many believed that Rodgers would likely search the transfer market for a different left-back alternative, but it’s possible that he has already discovered the solution in a way he never anticipated.

Hayato Inamura has taken Brendan Rodgers by ‘surprise’ at Celtic

After making his professional debut in 2024, Hayato Inamura joined Celtic from Albirex Niigata this summer. He prefers to play centre defender.

However, during the preseason, Rodgers used Inamura at left-back, and Hugh Keevins observed that his performances had taken his manager by “surprise.”

Despite Rodgers’ alleged “dismissive” remarks regarding the player, Keevins clarified on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that things have since changed and that he may have “unearthed a diamond.”

Hayato Inamura, who made his professional debut in 2024, moved from Albirex Niigata to Celtic this summer. His preferred position is central defender.

However, Hugh Keevins noted that Inamura’s performances had caught his manager “by surprise” when Rodgers put him at left-back during the preseason.

Keevins explained on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that Rodgers’ alleged “dismissive” comments about the player have since changed and that he might have “unearthed a diamond.”

What did Rodgers first say about Inamura?

Everyone believed that Inamura had joined to compete for starting positions against the underdog team of Auston Trusty and Liam Scales.

Given that Rodgers had previously implied that the player might be loaned out, some even wondered if they would get to see the Japan star.

When asked if Inamura would join the first team right away, Rodgers told BBC Sport, “No, he won’t be.” He contributes to the club’s investment.

But Inamura has not only started preseason games but also shown promise, as evidenced by his performance against Newcastle United last time out.

It appears that Celtic has identified a contender for Tierney.

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