Newcastle United are reportedly ‘confident’ they will win the race to sign Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney.
The Scottish international joined from his boyhood club Celtic for £25million in August 2019.
He has played over 120 times for the Gunners but lost his place in the starting XI last summer following the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Zinchenko is much more effective playing in Mikel Arteta’s inverted left-back role, with Tierney more of a flying box-to-box full-back, while the Ukrainian is naturally a midfielder.
There is no doubting Tierney’s ability, but it looks like Arsenal is no longer a good fit for him.
He will not struggle to find a new club if he wishes to leave the London club in the summer.
with Eddie Howe making a new left-back one of his top priorities going into the summer transfer window.
There also appears to be interest from Aston Villa despite the January signing of Spanish left-back Alex Moreno.
According to The Times, there is ‘confidence’ at St James’ Park that they will be able to sign Tierney this summer.
The Magpies believe they are a more attractive proposition for the former Celtic youngster as they can offer him Champions League football, something he has not experienced since moving to Arsenal four years ago.
The report says Arsenal want at least £30m for the defender, with Howe’s side prepared to meet their demands.
It is said that the Gunners ‘plan’ to offload Tierney in the summer as Arteta looks to ‘raise funds’ for incoming signings.
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As well as a new left-back, Howe is expected to pursue a new central defender, winger and midfielder.
Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby has been linked with a move to Newcastle for the best part of a year, while there is also believed to be interest in Leicester City playmaker James Maddison.
Arsenal have put in “a lot of the groundwork” already to sign Benjamin Sesko and it would be no “surprise” to see the Gunners try again, says Charles Watts.
Kieran Tierney reportedly has six suitors after him, but Mikel Arteta wants him to stay at Arsenal and play an ‘important role’ for the club next season.
According to reports, Arsenal have already informed two players that they are free ‘to leave’ the club during this summer’s transfer window.
Real Sociedad are in talks to sign Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez after opting not to buy Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney, according to reports.
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