Sources: PL club to make Celtic a mammoth offer for player they 'can't refuse'

Sources: PL club to make Celtic a mammoth offer for player they 'can't refuse'

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on

By Wayne Veysey

Arsenal are ready to make Celtic an offer for Kieran Tierney that they "can't refuse", Football Insider has learned.

But Arsenal are set to return to the negotiating table with a new and improved offer for Tierney, 22, that would be a club-record fee for Celtic, who are holding out for more than £20million for their prize aset.

A Gunners source has told Football Insider that the club are increasingly hopeful of landing Tierney after being given encouragement he is eager to make a move to a Premier League big hitter.

The first bid was slammed by ex-Celtic and Arsenal striker John Hartson as "an embarrassment" for such an outstanding player in the current market, but the source said the new offer is likely to be in the region the Scottish club "can't refuse".

The Scottish treble winners want to smash their club-record sale, which was the £19million received from Lyon for Moussa Dembele last summer, as well as comfortably exceed the £10million-plus fees received for the likes of Victor Wanyama, Virgil van Dijk and Fraser Forster.

Arsenal have set their sights on Tierney as they regard him as one of Europe's outstanding young left-backs who can thrive in a flat back four or in a more advanced wing-back role.

There is a concern that the Hoops academy product is seriously interested in a glamour move south of the border as he looks to match the stunning rise of fellow Scotland international and left-back Andy Robertson.

Tierney, who has four years remaining on the six-year contract in 2017, has already won five league titles among 11 major trophies at Celtic.

www.footballinsider247.com