The Napoli manager addressed speculation about the Celtic left-back over the weekend.
Tierney has been the focus of intense transfer speculation this summer, with Celtic holding firm in the face of offers from English Premier League club Arsenal.
Earlier this month it was reported by The Scottish Sun that Serie A outfit Napoli had entered the race to sign him this summer but that’s apparently been put to bed by Ancelotti.
Journalists had the chance to quiz the Napoli boss about it all after their match against Liverpool in Edinburgh on Sunday.
As quoted by The Daily Record, the 60-year-old said: “Am I aware of Kieran Tierney? I know him and he is a really good player.
“He is a really good young left back but he is a Celtic player. We are looking for a lot of players for this coming season but he is a Celtic player and we have two good left backs. But honestly I can say he is a really good player.”
That a three-time UEFA Champions League winning manager, currently in charge of an elite side, has Tierney so firmly on his radar is vindication of Celtic’s stance on the left-back.
The Daily Record’s latest report suggests that the Scottish champions value the player at as much as £30m, with Arsenal so far unable to match that.
It’s the kind of fee that would smash the outgoing Scottish transfer record Moussa Dembele set with his switch to Lyon last summer.
There’s a bit of pressure on Celtic to sell, but it’s clear the club will hold their ground until the perfect offer comes in. Time is now running out on Arsenal to get a deal done, with the English transfer window closing on August 8th.
However it shakes out the Hoops look destined to come out winners. Either they receive a fee that could kick off a new transfer era at the club or they hold on to a player with a continental reputation that will be massive in their trophy hunt this season.
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