Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney is reportedly ‘yet to hear’ from the club regarding whether they want him next season, amid interest from a few sides.
Tierney has failed to cement his place in the Gunners side since he joined from Celtic in 2019. Indeed, the Scotsman’s most Premier League appearances in a campaign for the club are 27.
He reached that tally in 2020/21 and again in the recently-concluded season. That only six of those in the recent season came from the start shows he’s not a player that’s held in particularly high esteem at the moment.
Indeed, Oleksandr Zinchenko is now Mikel Arteta’s preferred option on the left side of the defence.
While Tierney is not a mainstay at Arsenal, other clubs clearly see him as a player with a lot to offer.
Interest from Newcastle United has been reported for months. The Magpies are a side on the up, and it seems Tierney could slot in well, especially given there’ll be more opportunities with Champions League football.
It was suggested earlier this month that a ‘formal bid’ was expected at the end of the month – which would seemingly mean a bid will come very soon.
However, if it’s not the Magpies who secure the snare of the defender, there are other sides who could. Manchester City have been credited with shock interest, and a return to Celtic has also been mooted for Tierney.
Tierney in the dark over future
Amid all the interest, things remain firmly up in the air. Indeed, Football Insider reports Tierney is ‘yet to hear from Arsenal’ regarding whether or not they want him this season.
Naturally, that’s less than ideal for the defender. Preparing for a season while not having any idea where you’ll be playing the next campaign can’t be easy.
At least if Arsenal told him he wasn’t wanted he’d be able to prepare himself to move on, rather than remain in limbo.
While they presumably will, there have been no suggestions that those conversations are to happen. Indeed, while Football Insider states ‘the door is open’ for Tierney to leave, Arteta’s thoughts are unknown, given he has ‘had no conversations’ with him.
That’s unlikely to stop approaches from any interested side, but things would certainly be easier for them if they knew Arsenal wanted to sell or not.
Tierney could search for move away
In any case, it seems the best case for Tierney might be to move on. Appearances and performances over the past few seasons aside, it’s not a great sign that his manager hasn’t told him outright he wants him.
It wouldn’t be hard for him to do so and put his mind at ease.
With that being said, he might actively look to move on anyway, knowing that he definitely is wanted by Newcastle, among others, rather than maybe being wanted at the Emirates.
A move would also likely see him play more often – another side isn’t going to sign him for no reason. For now, though, things are up in the air.
About The Author
