Exclusive: Fallen Arsenal star’s future in serious jeopardy with Newcastle, Aston Villa ready to pounce

TEAMtalk has learned there’s a “very realistic possibility” Arsenal axe a £25m signing, and a move to Newcastle or Aston Villa are two of three potential escape routes.

In an exclusive interview with reporter Ben Jacobs, we’ve been told Arsenal left-back, Kieran Tierney, is a genuine contender to leave the Emirates this summer.

The 25-yeear-old was a £25m signing from Celtic back in 2019 and when fit, has been a superb performer at left-back.

However, Tierney has begun to struggle more and more with injury in recent years and lost his place upon the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Speculation has swirled Newcastle are sizing the Scotland international up. A £30m price tag was touted by Football Insider, though per Jacobs, a move to a potential Champions League contender in France could be on the cards.

Jacobs told us Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is currently on the fence over whether to cash in on Tierney. However, combined with the player’s tumble down the pecking order and desire to feature regularly, there’s a “very realistic possibility” an exit is sanctioned.

“Kieran Tierney is the most interesting one for me,” said Jacobs when discussing who could leave Arsenal at season’s end.

“He’s been playing left back in the Europa League, but in the Premier League Oleksandr Zinchenko has come in and obviously taken his place.

“Even though Tierney has made a healthy amount of appearances, he’s only started four Premier League games. With those minutes diminished, he will be assessing his options.

“My understanding with Tierney is that he held face to face talks with Arteta to try and better understand his future and was really just told to fight for his place and that he’s still valued.

“So from Arteta’s point of view, I still believe that he’s relatively undecided as to whether to let Tierney go. But if you’re Tierney, you’re thinking about your game time, he’s in his mid-20s.

“So there is a very realistic possibility that he leaves if the right offer comes in over the course of the summer.”

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Where next for Tierney? Newcastle, Villa, Monaco?

Detailing three potential escape routes for Tierney, Jacobs continued: “That’s where I think Newcastle is one to watch because they’ve got Matt Targett and Dan Burn, but anyhow, will be looking to strengthen in the left-back position.

“If Newcastle make European, or of course in a best-case scenario Champions League football, left-back is definitely the type of area where there’s room for improvement and Tierney may see that as a real opportunity.

“Aston Villa have been a club that have also enquired but I think that Tierney will still want European football so personally, and it is only my view, I’d be surprised if Tierney drops down to a club not in Europe in his mid-20s.

“I’m also told that there’s a bit of interest away from the Premier League; Monaco (currently 3rd in Ligue 1) could be one to watch, especially if Caio Henrique ends up leaving. There’s a fair amount of interest in him as well.

“So that one will be a balance between what the player wants versus what Arsenal want. Because, you know, Arsenal would love to have their cake and eat it and keep Tierney for depth.

“But at the moment, he’s not going to be supplanting Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back. And as a result, his game-time has been very much limited.”

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