Arsenal have reportedly turned to Kieran Tierney in their search for a new left-back and have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of the Celtic star.
Daily Mail report that Arsenal are stepping up their search for a new left-back. The Gunners have earmarked Kieran Tierney for the said position and are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of the Celtic defender, who is expected to be the subject of a bid from the Europa League finalists in the coming days.
Kieran Tierney has been linked with a move to the cash-rich Premier League for more than a year now. From being linked with Manchester United to Arsenal, Tierney has been able to generate continuous interest in his services through his performances in Scotland.
Joining Celtic in 2005, Tierney has been a regular part of the Bhoys’ first-team setup since the start of 2016. An established member of the Scottish National Team as well now, the 22-year-old recorded 5 assists in 20 Scottish Premiership appearances in the 2018-19 season while being one of the first names on the team sheet in every competition for Celtic.
After 11 trophies with the Scottish giants, Tierney might be ready for a step up in the proverbial football ladder, with Arsenal genuinely chasing the 22-year-old’s signature.
Arsenal have a tight budget to work with in the current transfer window, with Unai Emery in need of plugging several holes within the squad. One of the priority areas is defence, but not the left-back area, with the club regularly linked with central defenders.
But, Nacho Monreal is entering the last stage of his footballing career while Sead Kolasinac is being tipped to be heading towards an exit, which converts the left-back area into a priority position as well in terms of reinforcements.
Kieran Tierney is good going forward but is defensively better structured in terms of skillset compared to Sead Kolasinac. The 22-year-old is also capable of playing up ahead in left midfield as well as in central defence, which could come in handy for Unai Emery, if he fails to land his desired central defensive targets.
The report states that Celtic could demand a fee around the same mark that they received for Moussa Dembele from Lyon – £20 million. Arsenal will likely be able to offset the outlay on Tierney with the cash they receive for Sead Kolasinac, if he does end up leaving Emirates. Even if Kolasinac stays put, Tierney will provide competition to the Bosnian in the left-back position.
Also, £20 million for a 22-year-old international with a winning mentality and proven track record in European competitions as well, is a bargain in the current market, especially compared to the extravagant fees that full-backs are starting to command currently.
