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Celtic tell Kieran Tierney they want to sell him to Arsenal… but Gunners face one problem
LIVERPOOL defender Andy Robertson has told Kieran Tierney to leave Celtic for Arsenal but the Gunners may not be willing to match his asking price, claims transfer expert Ian McGarry.
Arsenal: Celtic willing to ‘cash in’ on Tierney reveals pundit
Express Sport understands Arsenal have had a second bid of £18million turned down for Tierney after an initial £15m offer was rebuffed.
McGarry claims the Hoops have valued the left-back at £30m and will not accept anything less.
But he says Arsenal are currently only willing to offer £25m, which includes add-ons.
The Gunners’ transfer budget for this summer is said to be around £40m before any potential player sales.
Arsenal are willing to increase their opening offer, but going only to £20m in a guaranteed payment
“We know that Arsenal have had an initial bid of around £15m turned down for Kieran Tierney,” McGarry said on the Transfer Window podcast.
“What I’m able to tell you is that Celtic consider that particular bid as very much undervaluing Tierney on the basis that a full-back signing for Premier League clubs in the current situation can easily fetch between £30-50m.
“We have Man United chasing Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Crystal Palace, a player who doesn’t have the international or Champions League experience of Tierney, and offering £55m bid for him.
“And abroad we’ve seen Bayern Munich spend €120m on two full-backs for their club.
“Celtic feel that they are justified in asking for £30m for the player, who is going into year three of his six-year contract he signed in 2017.”
“What has changed [since then]? I can tell you [what has] changed.
“One, and probably most importantly, is that Celtic have told Tierney that they want to cash in, that the amount of money being offered for him is optimum for them in terms of making money for a player that clearly came through their academy.
“So all of it is 100 per cent profit.
“They have said to Arsenal, or indicated to Arsenal, that the £30m is non-negotiable and that they will have to come much nearer to that.
“My information from sources at Arsenal is that Arsenal are willing to increase their opening offer, but going only to £20m in a guaranteed payment and paying £5m in add-ons.
“That will get them close to Celtic’s valuation, Celtic will play hard-ball I’m sure with regards to getting anything else out of Arsenal that they can.”