Sources: £45,000-a-week PL star may join Celtic instead of English club after twist

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Published on:

25 Jun 2019, 1:30 am

By Wayne Veysey

Celtic are interested in signing Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson as part of a player-plus-cash deal for star man Kieran Tierney, Football Insider understands.

The right-back, 27, has been in talks to join West Brom permanently as the Premier League club look to offload him after eight years at Emirates Stadium.

Football Insider revealed last weekend that Jenkinson is among the six Gunners fringe players offered to Celtic as part of Arsenal's opening bid for Tierney, which also included £15million in cash.

That offer was rejected by the Scottish champions as they hold out for a £20million-plus fee for Tierney, who is their prize asset and a star of their three consecutive treble campaigns.

But, in a twist that could scupper a move to West Brom, a Celtic source has told Football Insider that the club are interested in signing Jenkinson, who is entering the final year of his £45,000-a-week contract at Arsenal.

It remains to be seen whether the defender would be included in the potential Tierney deal, or as a separate transaction, but he is regarded by the Hoops as a more viable target than the other fringe players mentioned by Arsenal.

Jenkinson made just eight appearances at Arsenal last season and has accumulated just 70 in total during his eight years at the club, despite being capped by England.

He has also had 18 months on loan at West Ham as well as a spell out at Birmingham City.

Celtic are in the market for at least one, and perhaps two, right-backs this summer after losing Mikael Lustig, Cristian Gamboa and 2018-19 loanee Jeremy Toljan.

In other Celtic news, it can be REVEALED a deal is all but done as player agrees £12,000-a-week move to Parkhead in deal that includes pay-rise clauses.

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