It’s not often you get confirmation of the players Arsenal have tried and failed to get, but there won’t be many sleepless nights over this one.
After speaking to Sky Sports this week, Kieran Tierney has revealed the Gunners made an approach to sign him from Celtic last year during May.
At just 19 years of age, the left full-back had picked up his first Young Scottish Player of the Year award and was one of the hottest topics in Celtic’s ranks.
Tierney has gone on to retain that plaudit this season, but has assured his loyal supporters that there was no chance of him switching to North London.
The manager (Brendan Rodgers) came in last year and I had been told already there was a big bid there.
As soon as I trained under him, there was no convincing needed. I was going to stay at Celtic anyway.
Arsenal placed a £10million bid for the defender in the early stages of the transfer window, but it wasn’t enough to convince the player he would be appreciated.
Arsene Wenger already had options such as Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal on offer, but was keen to add someone that could one day make that position his own.
It’s clear to see that it’s an area that needs to be strengthened though, having bought Cohen Bramall from non-league Hednesford Town back in January.
As well as that, the Gunners have gone back out into the market to land Sead Kolasinac from Schalke, with the 23-year-old set to join officially on July 1st.
With four players all capable of playing in the same position, it bodes the question as to whether Gibbs or Monreal will be given their marching orders this summer.
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