Arsenal have declared strong interest in signing Celtic defender Kieran Tierney over the past few weeks and the full-back should embrace the challenge of moving to north London to further his career as a footballer.
The Gunners started negotiations with a £15m bid but such an insulting offer was always going to be rejected. Unai Emery is keen on the full-back, and it is being reported that Celtic have rejected a second bid from Arsenal in the region of £25m. Should the Scottish champions receive a bid of around £30m, this would suit both parties and it would allow Tierney to take the next step in his career.
The 22-year-old started his career with Celtic and has a strong affiliation with the club, rapidly transforming into the best full-back in the Scottish Premiership. During his five-year tenure in the senior squad, Tierney has netted five times and registered an impressive 25 assists in 97 league appearances, demonstrating his attacking qualities and crossing ability. However, the Premier League is a clear step up in quality and moving to Arsenal would be perfect for his career; guaranteed first-team action coupled with experience against the likes of Manchester City will further his development and, ultimately, will prove if he is good enough at the top level.
The Scot is currently priced at 1/6 with bookmakers to join Arsenal, and you can download betting apps from www.bettingapps.org if you fancy a bet on this or anything else. Those odds suggest a move for Tierney to north London is likely, but Arsenal are yet to agree a fee with Celtic for the full-back and could face trouble doing so with a rumoured transfer budget of just £45m this summer.
Despite being unproven in the Premier League, it is important to remember that he is only 22-years-old; he has the potential to go to the very top, and this could be the move he needs to make a name for himself and showcase his talent on the big stage.
However, according to Ian McGarry, Football Operations and Communications consultant, Tierney is happy at Celtic Park and is not seeking a move. He told Reach plc’s Transfer Window podcast: “I don’t think Tierney is entirely convinced about moving.
“He’s very much a ‘home boy’ and would like to spend more time in his career at Celtic.
“However, Celtic’s willingness to sell him has been an issue with regards to his thinking, and those around him who believe if Celtic want to sell then he should consider his future.”
Italian side Napoli are rumoured to be interested in signing the full-back, but a move abroad looks unlikely at this point and Arsenal remain firm favourites to capture his signature. Only the player himself knows what he wants, but at 22-years-old, he must put his career first. He has been a fantastic servant to Celtic and has been adored by the Hoops for years, but even they would not begrudge him for moving on.
With Emery searching for options to bolster Arsenal’s chances of a top-four finish in the 2019/20 campaign, Tierney would be an excellent acquisition and a risk worth taking. The importance of having quality full-backs is often overlooked, with Pep Guardiola a prime example. After his first season in the Premier League, he spent over £100m on full-backs and has won back-to-back league titles ever since. It is not the sole factor for their success, but it highlights the importance of that position and how crucial they are, not just defensively, but offensively, also.
Tierney should seriously consider the switch to north London as it would provide him a new challenge and a platform to compete at the highest level.