Celtic defender Kieran Tierney is close to the exit door at Celtic Park with Arsenal said to be close to agreeing a £45 million package deal for the left-back.
Football Insider report that a third official bid of £25 million is expected to be tabled by the north London side in the coming days that will see Tierney make the move south of the border to the English capital, with the report stating that the Scottish international is in line to sign a five-year deal with Arsenal and see his wages nearly triple to £75,000-a-week.
Arsenal have been chasing Tierney for the majority of the transfer window, with the Gunners already having two bids turned down from Celtic for the defender (per BBC Sport), and now Unai Emery’s side stand as the lone favourite to sign the 22-year-old as Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti categorically ruled out a move for the Scotsman (per BBC Sport).
Any sale of Tierney this summer is likely to stand as a Scottish Premiership record, with Moussa Dembele’s move from Celtic to Lyon last season currently the record at £19.7 million (per BBC Sport).
Although Neil Lennon has been stubborn when it comes to selling the left-back this summer based on the two rejected bids for Tierney, the Hoops manager might have to bite the bullet if the Gunners do come back in with a £25 million offer that is structured better than their previous proposal.
Indeed, such a transfer fee could go a long way for Celtic in their long-term prospects for the club, with Lennon recently stating in a press conference via STV Sport that his aim for next season is to seal a fourth domestic treble in a row, and money from a sale as big as Tierney’s could help the Hoops achieve this momentous goal if they reinvest it in the squad.
Tierney’s proposed move to Arsenal will remain one of the most talked-about transfer sagas of the summer until the English deadline day on the 8th August, and although Lennon has remained adamant on not selling the left-back this window, the future of Celtic might be better off if the Scottish champions cash in on their star defender.
With money playing a bigger role than ever in football, £25 million for one player could help Celtic massively in their mission to secure a fourth Scottish treble in a row, as well as make it a second season in a row where the Hoops break the transfer record for a fee received for a player in the SPL.
Celtic fans, will Tierney depart the club this summer? Let us know!
