Neil Lennon uses Aaron Wan-Bissaka to justify Kieran Tierney valuation

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Neil Lennon has defended Celtic’s handling of negotiations with Arsenal in a potential deal involving Kieran Tierney.

As reported by The Sun, Celtic manager Neil Lennon offered a robust defence of the club’s Kieran Tierney valuation as the transfer saga involving the left-back rumbles on.

Arsenal are reported to be weighing up a third offer for the Scotland international after the Hoops kicked a second approach into touch, not satisfied with the structure of a potential £25m deal.

Tierney is a key asset for the club and Lennon has used the recent £50m transfer of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace to Manchester United as justification for playing hard-ball in negotiations.

As quoted by The Sun, the Celtic Park boss said: “We can’t do anything about what clubs do in England.

“The £50m for Wan-Bissaka is a lot of money and we feel Kieran is a far more experienced and rounded full-back at this juncture in his career.

“He’s an asset for us and we do have a value for the player and we rate the player very highly. So disrespectful is the wrong word but we’re certainly not going to be pushed over in any negotiations.”

If the Gunners were in any doubt that they need to pay up for Tierney then they’ve been put right here. Lennon and Celtic are not messing about and want a fair price for one of their star players.

Wan-Bissaka, who earns a reported £80,000-a-week at Old Trafford, has really only had one season playing regularly at English Premier League level and could still be considered as something of an untested talent, despite the enormous figures involved.

Tierney meanwhile has played at a club with massive expectations for a number of years now, regularly featuring in UEFA Champions League and Europa League action, as well as showing a winning mentality in helping the club deliver massive trophy success.

There are of course realities when considering the value of talents in Scotland, but Celtic are right to protect their interests, just as Arsenal are in trying to get the best deal possible.

Whether there’s a deal for the two clubs to complete remains to be seen, but Lennon has made one thing clear, Tierney is only leaving Celtic this summer if the Hoops get what they want.