Arsenal will sanction a summer move for Kieran Tierney if Newcastle agree to match their £25m asking price, according to the Northern Echo.
The report states that Eddie Howe has identified the Scot as a ‘key target’ in his search for an offensive left-back, with Dan Burn not seen as a natural in that position and Matt Targett deemed a short-term solution.
He won’t come cheap, however, as the Gunners won’t accept anything less than the £25m paid to Celtic in 2019, despite him losing his place in the side to summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Interestingly, the 25-year-old is represented by CAA Stellar – the same agency that look after Newcastle United duo Nick Pope and Elliot Anderson.
Tierney would be a huge upgrade on our current options, but the challenge would be maintaining his fitness after an injury ravaged few years at the Emirates. He’s stayed fit this season, but missed a big chunk of the 2021/22 campaign after knee surgery.
It’s understood that Howe has held a number of meetings with his recruitment team in recent weeks to discussing potential targets. Based on this report, along with similar claims from The Telegraph and The Mirror in recent days, it seems the left-back features high on our wishlist and a very attainable option.
Tierney is a very good player, a good pro & a leader on the pitch from what I’ve seen of him @ Celtic & Arsenal.
The fact that Arsenal may be willing to let him leave doesn’t worry about whether he’s good enough – coz look at the players City allowed to leave to Arsenal.
My concern would be that Arsenal don’t have the confidence in his fitness – and with respect to the lad, we don’t need any more injury prone players in this squad.
Sharpy17(Quote)