According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney will decide on his future with the club at the end of the current season. The 25-year-old defender, who has started just four Premier League games this season, has slipped down the pecking order at the Emirates. Although Tierney was an important part of Mikel Arteta’s plans last season, the addition of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City has reduced Tierney’s playing time.
The Ukrainian, who just scored his first Premier League goal in Arsenal’s 4-2 victory against Aston Villa, has cemented himself as Arteta’s first choice left-back this season. And it seems there’s no going back for Arteta from picking Zinchenko over Tierney, who also has had injury issues of his own quite frequently. Amidst the lack of gametime, it is being understood that the Scotland international is ready to walk through the Emirates’ exit door despite his current contract running till the summer of 2026.
Arsenal left-back already attracting interest from potential suitors
Tierney apparently doesn’t want to spend the next years of his career on the substitutes’ bench and has cut a isolated figure in the dressing room. Mikel Arteta, has been sympathetic to Tierney’s predicament and expects that the impending return of Arsenal to Europa League duty would provide the left-back with more opportunities. Tierney has made it clear that he won’t rock the boat and will keep giving his all as Arsenal fights to capture their first Premier League championship since 2004.
Yet the frustrated defender, who is aware that several Premier League opponents are closely watching his situation, is unlikely to be comforted by that. Tierney joined Arsenal in 2019 as Unai Emery’s final acquisition for £25 million from Celtic, and since then, he has solidified himself as a fan favourite. Romano told CaughtOffside:
“Tierney will decide his future at the end of the season, also Nuno Tavares on loan is another factor to consider. Arsenal want him to be 100% focused on the second part of the season, they’re not in talks with any club now.”
Arsenal’s style of play this year, with Zinchenko spending the most of the game in midfield, does not, however, fit Tierney’s preferences. Even when Zinchenko missed the entire month of October due to injury, Arteta decided to start right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back over Tierney. According to FootballInsider, Newcastle is reportedly ‘closely monitoring’ Tierney as a result of the defender’s lack of playing time.
The report adds, Eddie Howe is looking for a left-back this summer and has Tierney on his radar. And an ambitious Newcastle is prepared to extend a £30 million lifeline to the Scottish full-back in the summer. With Newcastle making no secret of their interest in the player and having the financial resources to match Arsenal’s asking price, a departure of the Scot at the conclusion of the season is becoming more and more possible.
Despite the player’s reward of a new five-year contract in 2021 came at Arteta’s suggestion, the manager is unlikely to stand in between Tierney and his potential exit given he has Tomiyasu and recently acquired Jakub Kiwior who may serve as a backup for Zinchenko. Moreover, the number of suitors will be limited for Tierny as a result of his £100,000 per week salary, and Arsenal might be reluctant to sell him to Newcastle if they are going to be seen as possible top four contenders.
The Scottish international, who is thought to be worth around £26 million, drew interest from Italy as well, with Juventus and Inter Milan apparently interested in acquiring him in January. And although though he hasn’t played much lately—his last league start was on Boxing Day—his first three seasons at the Emirates, wherein he helped the Gunners to a FA Cup triumph have improved his transfer value.