Arsenal man open to ‘sensational return’ to former club but Newcastle are ‘favourites’ to sign him

Lewis Oldham 28 Jun 2023 10:05 AM

Kieran Tierney is likely to leave Arsenal this summer.

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney would reportedly ‘consider’ a return to Scottish giants Celtic this summer but Newcastle are leading the race to sign him.

The Scotland international initially impressed for Arsenal following his £25m move to the Premier League in 2019.

The 26-year-old missed the end of the 2021/22 campaign due to injury and he slipped down the pecking order last season following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.

Tierney was restricted to just six starts for Arsenal in the Premier League last season and his lack of game time has fuelled talk linking him with a move elsewhere. He is reportedly valued at around £30m this summer.

The left-back has emerged as one of Newcastle United’s main targets and it was claimed earlier this month that Eddie Howe’s side are in ‘pole position’ to sign him from their Premier League rivals.

But The Sun are now reporting that ‘Tierney won’t close the door on a Celtic return if Brendan Rodgers looks for a sensational summer reunion’. They add.

‘SunSport understands the Arsenal and Scotland left-back will spend the close season weighing up his future after a deeply frustrating 2022-23 campaign. Newcastle United have long tracked Tierney but he’s also now being linked with the Hoops.

‘Rodgers has been handed a huge £30million transfer budget for his second spell in charge of the Hoops. And has never hidden his admiration for Tierney, who he took to another level as a player during his first Parkhead hotseat spell.

‘But even that wouldn’t be enough to buy the Isle of Man-born ace who left Celtic for the Gunners in 2019 for a Scottish record £25m and currently earns £120,000-a-week on a contract until 2026.

‘However, a season-long loan could yet be a possibility IF both a substantial loan fee and significant compromise over wages can be agreed with Arsenal and Tierney.

‘Newcastle are seen as favourites to land Tierney – but rival Hoops interest would provide a major emotional pull for him after coming through the club’s academy.’

Journalist Ben Jacobs reckons Newcastle’s interest “is genuine”, while Aston Villa are also “keeping tabs on the situation”.

“Arsenal would demand a fee in excess of the £25m they paid Celtic in 2019. £35-40m is probably the starting point, especially given Tierney is healthily contracted until 2026. Let’s not forget he was Real Madrid-linked for £50m only a year ago,” Jacobs said.

“Newcastle’s interest is genuine. Left-back is an area Eddie Howe knows he needs to strengthen. I am told Tierney ideally wants European football still, which should rule out Aston Villa despite some links.

“Villa boss Unai Emery was the manager who brought Tierney to Arsenal, so it’s natural he’s keeping tabs on the situation.”

Arsenal Celtic