Newcastle United are confident of beating Aston Villa to Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney this summer as they look to bolster their squad following Champions League qualification.
The Magpies will be playing on Europe’s biggest stage for the first time in over two decades after they clinched fourth place in Eddie Howe’s first full season in charge of the northeast side, and are keen to add to their ranks before the new season.
They have identified left-back as a key area to strengthen despite the performances of Dan Burn last season, and Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney has emerged as their no.1 target in that position.
The Scot is expected to leave north London this summer after four seasons with the club, having become firmly second choice behind Oleksandr Zinchenko in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order.
Though he appeared 27 times in the Premier League last season, he started just six times, and by the end of the season had even been displaced by January signing Jakub Kiwior, who was ostensibly signed as a centre-back.
He is expected to leave the club this summer in search of first team football, and is expected to command a fee of excess of £30m from any interested party.
According to the Times, however, the Magpies remain ‘confident’ of beating the midlands outfit to the 25-year-old, in part because Tierney is keen to move closer to home.
However, they may be dragged into a bidding war with Emery’s side, which could see Arsenal net a tidy profit on the £25m they paid for the defender.
