Mikel Arteta may have ruled out selling Kieran Tierney to Premier League rivals West Ham or Newcastle United while insisting that there are ‘not any plans’ to sell another defender this month.
The Gunners have already shipped out Pablo Mari and Auston Trusty to Monza and Sheffield United respectively, and reports suggesting that Kieran Tierney could be following them out the door are not going away.
The Scotland international is the second Premier League misfit on Real Sociedad’s radar, alongside Donny Van de Beek. Long-time admirers Newcastle, according to The Telegraph, remain confident that a deal for Tierney could be agreed.
There is West Ham too (Daily Express). The Hammers could still move for another left-back amid doubts over Aaron Cresswell’s future.
But, even after leaving Tierney out of his squad for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta insists that Arsenal are not currently expecting to sell another defender before September’s transfer deadline.
West Ham and Newcastle like Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney
“There are not any plans in doing anything like that,” Arteta tells Football London.
The £30 million-rated Tierney started only six league games in 2022/23. But with Oleksandr Zinchenko and now Jurrien Timber on the treatment table – the latter ruled out for months after starting ahead of Tierney against Forest – the former Celtic flyer is likely to be back in Arteta’s roster ahead of Monday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
“It’s an opportunity for everybody,” Arteta said when quizzed further on Tierney’s future. “We’re going to need everybody, and everybody is going to be important. The numbers that we have in the squad, especially in those positions (left-back), are more limited now.
“He played in the final (against Manchester City in Community Shield). So a player that plays in the final is part of the plans for sure.”
Newcastle now appear to be moving on from Tierney. The Athletic report that talks with Chelsea regarding an eye-watering £35 million deal for teenager Lewis Hall are underway.
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