Newcastle United dealt fresh blow in bid to complete ‘world-class’ transfer

Newcastle United may be set to miss out on reported transfer target Kieran Tierney this summer.

Tierney is reportedly on the lookout for a new club this summer after seeing opportunities reduced over the last 12 months or so. Arsenal signed Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer, and the Ukrainian has become the starting left-back at Arsenal, leaving little space for Tierney, who has struggled to prove himself since moving from Celtic.

In need of a left-back this summer, Newcastle have been linked with a move for Tierney, who does suit Eddie Howe’s style of play.

The Magpies currently have Kieran Tripper on the right-hand side of defence, but they don’t have an attack-minded defender on the other side. But according to The Mirror via Record Sport, the Tierney is keen on returning to Celtic to work under old boss Brendan Rodgers, who has returned to Parkhead this summer.

It’s claimed the Scot is even willing to take a significant wage cut to make the move, potentially putting Newcastle behind in the race if they are interested. The update comes after BBC Sport pundit and former Ranger striker Kenny Miller dubbed Tierney ‘too good’ to stay on the Arsenal bench.

“I think he needs to now. He’s had his injury problems over the course of his career but for me when he plays he’s a world-class left-back. There’s no getting away from it,” Miller told BBC Sport earlier this summer. “To play regularly he probably needs to step away from Arsenal and there will be loads of teams who are interested, there will be loads of suitors, there’s no doubt about it. Newcastle are a team who have been constantly linked with him.

“He was linked with Real Madrid at one point. He’ll have any number of admirers. He should go and play more regularly. It doesn’t seem to affect his performances at the international level but when you’re playing week in, week out there’s a different edge to your game. There’s potentially more in from what we’ve seen.

“If he’s not going to be getting a game he’s too good to be sitting part of a squad. He’s one of our best players. A move to Newcastle with everything going on at that place would be a big step, they have Champions League football as well. If he moves he’ll have a number of options.”