Arsenal willing to listen to offers for Tierney amid Newcastle interest

Suraj Radia

• 6 Mar 2023 21:28 GMT
• 2 min read

Kieran Tierney could be set for an Arsenal exit this summer, with the club willing to take advantage of interest from Newcastle to raise funds by selling the left-back.

Tierney has made just four Premier League starts this season after the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko last year and Newcastle are believed to have identified the 25-year-old as a top target in the summer.

Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to build on an incredible season by strengthening heavily in the summer, a move which could require players to be sold to boost their budget, according to The Times.

U-TURN: Arsenal's left-back conundrum could spell Tierney exit

The Telegraph claim that Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is a long-time admirer of Tierney and the club will plot a move if Arsenal show any willingness to sell.

Arsenal are adamant that, if they do sell Tierney, they will look to recoup at least the £25 million they paid Celtic for him in 2019, with the Scottish international also still having three years remaining on his contract.

While Arteta is still fond of Tierney, there is believed to be an acceptance at the Emirates that Tierney would not be satisfied with another bit-part role next season and the club will not stand in his way if he requests to leave in the summer.

Why Tierney to Newcastle would make sense

Zinchenko has made the left-back position his own since his £32m move from Manchester City, with Arteta preferring the Ukranian’s ability to tuck into the midfield in attack compared to the more natural wing-back capabilities of Tierney.

However, Newcastle have started Dan Burn at left-back this season despite the 6’7 defender preferring to play at centre-half and Howe is believed to want a more attacking alternative to Matt Targett, who has missed the majority of the campaign through injury.

The Gunners may be reluctant to sanction a sale to a team who is likely to be considered a rival in the future, although Arteta is looking to bring in four players in the summer, including a left-back to replace Tierney.

PLANS: How Arsenal could line-up after they make summer moves

Arsenal also are in the market for two central midfielders, with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo among the names being considered, and a forward, while the likes of Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares could be sold to raise funds.