Arsenal transfer interest in Kieran Tierney is no surprise to his Celtic teammates
Arsenal’s interest in Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney comes as absolutely no surprise to Hoops captain Scott Brown.
Aged just 22, Tierney has already won eight major honours and made 170 first-team appearances for the Glasgow giants, as well as picking up 12 caps for Scotland.
Arsenal’s Tierney interest: Five key things to know…
- It is widely believed Unai Emery has only £45m to work with this summer after missing out on the Champions League.
- Tierney has been identified as one of his prime targets.
- The Gunners have already had two bids rejected.
- The first bid was rumoured to be in the region of £15m.
- Arsenal could be willing to offer Tierney £70,000 per week.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7297812-kieran-tierney-s-move-to-arsenal-almost-makes-too-much-sense
According to reports, Celtic have already turned down an initial offer of £15m from the Gunners, while a second bid was also rejected as the Scottish champions dig in their heels for Tierney’s full asking price.
Fellow Scots, Callum McGregor and James Forrest, also enjoyed stellar campaigns during 2018/19, registering a combined 14 goals as Celtic sealed an eighth consecutive league title, and although skipper Brown hopes the trio remain in Glasgow, interest in them comes as no shock.
“They have been phenomenal. They have been chatting away to everyone like nothing has happened,” he told Sky Sports.
“It’s great but once you’re a top quality player like he [Tierney] is, like what Callum is, what James is, you are always going to get bids. You are always going to get speculation and you are always going to get teams wanting to poach your better younger players.
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“That’s what they are and they have been phenomenal for us over the last three, four, five seasons and they are only going to get better so it’s no wonder people are looking to put their money where their mouth is and go out and sign the players.
“But again, they are Celtic players now and here’s hoping they stay that way.”
Brown is fully aware of the allure of playing in the Premier League but believes whatever decision Tierney makes will be the right one for Celtic.
He added: “It’s always going to be. That’s what happens when you’re a top quality player.
“If Kieran goes or if he stays, it will be great for Celtic either way. Whatever happens, happens.
“But as it stands now, Kieran is a Celtic player.”
That could of course change should Arsenal come in with an improved offer, which they are expected to do so, but not for anything less than £50m according to ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton.
He tweeted: “Not so long ago John Stones went for £50 million and Celtic sold Virgil Van Dijk for £13 million…Wan Bissaka £50 million to United…Let’s hope if Celtic do sell Kieran Tierney they get a similar fee as he is every bit as good.”
Not so long ago John Stones went for £50 million and Celtic sold Virgil Van Dijk for £13 million… Wan Bissaka £50 million to United…Let’s hope if Celtic do sell Kieran Tierney they get a similar fee as he is every bit as good..
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) June 26, 2019
