Alexander-Arnold cited as Arsenal told to sign ‘top star’ – Agbonlahor

Newcastle United have been told to sign a “direct replacement” for Kieran Tierney as Arsenal prepare to accept an offer for him in the next week.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed that the Gunners should only consider selling the defender if a suitable replacement is able to be signed.

Football Insider revealed last week (6 July) that the Scotland international is set to hold a conversation with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to finalise whether or not he will stay at the Emirates.

He is a top target for Newcastle United, as first revealed by Football Insider in February, and has also been on the radar of Man City and Aston Villa.

Game time was been hard to come by for the defender last term as a result of injury issues and the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City last summer (2022), a left-back who is more suited to Arteta’s style.

He notched one goal and two assists in 36 appearances across all competitions last term, but started in just 15 of those outings.

With a potential transfer on the cards, Agbonlahor believes that Arsenal must secure another signing before considering selling Tierney.

“I would only sell Tierney if a replacement was ready,” he told Football Insider

Kieran Tierney, Celtic

“If they got someone who is a better defender because Zinchenko is outstanding, but there were games last season where he got targeted, and we had the same discussion about Trent Alexander- Arnold , who’s defending is no better.

“Teams will target that side so I would definitely keep Kieran Tierney unless they sign a top left-back that is ready to come straight in as his replacement.

In other news, Kylian Mbappe is ‘tailor made’ for transfer as Arsenal told superstar’s Premier League move plan – pundit