Kieran Tierney considering Arsenal future and may QUIT after losing place as Premier League rivals plot £30m transfer
KIERAN TIERNEY is considering his future at Arsenal after becoming increasingly frustrated by his lack of action.
And ambitious Newcastle are ready to throw the Scottish international full-back a £30million lifeline in the summer.
Tierney, 25, has managed just four Premier League starts all season following the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer.
He is cutting an increasingly isolated figure in the dressing room and does not want to spend the next years of his career sitting on the subs’ bench.
Manager Mikel Arteta is sympathetic to his situation and hopes that Arsenal’s impending return to Europa League duty will give Tierney more opportunities.
But that is unlikely to appease the exasperated defender who knows that a number of Premier League rivals are closely monitoring his situation.
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And with Newcastle making no secret of their interest - and with the financial muscle to meet Arsenal’s valuation - a parting of the ways is looking increasingly likely at the end of the season.
Tierney has established himself as a firm fans’ favourite since becoming the last of Unai Emery’s signings for Arsenal when he joined in a £25million deal from Celtic in 2019.
But the way the team is playing this season, with Zinchenko stepping into midfield for much of the match, does not suit Tierney’s style.
And even when Zinchenko was sidelined by injury throughout the whole of October, Arteta preferred to play Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back ahead of Tierney.
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With Arsenal going flat out to win their first Premier League title since 2004, Tierney has made it clear that he is not going to rock the boat and will continue to give 100 percent commitment.
And despite his shortage of recent minutes - his last league start came on Boxing Day - his transfer value has nevertheless increased on the back of his first three seasons at the Emirates.
It was on Arteta’s recommendation that the player was rewarded with a new five-year contract in 2001.
But his £100,000-a-week wages will limit the number of potential buyers and Arsenal could be reluctant to sell him to Newcastle if they are going to be regarded as potential top four rivals.
Arteta, though, is unlikely to stand in the way of his departure as he has both Tomiyasu and recent signing Jakub Kiwior who can act as back-up to Zinchenko.
Nuno Tavares has also been a surprise success since joining Marseilles on loan this season but is unlikely to return to the Emirates and will probably be sold in the summer.