Reports | Arsenal make breakthrough in Kieran Tierney pursuit

Kieran Tierney has been one of Arsenal’s top targets this summer as Unai Emery looks to rebuild and strengthen his defence for the upcoming Premier League season. Tierney, a 22-year-old Scottish international is a boyhood fan of Celtic and is reported to have asked the Celtic management for a chance to prove himself elsewhere.

But while Celtic are happy to let him go, they wanted their £25 million valuation for the full-back to be met, with a certain amount up-front before letting the 22-year-old go. Arsenal had first offered £18 million upfront but is now the first team to have blinked in this stare-off by agreeing to the £20 million upfront demand.

Liverpool’s dynamic defence duo of Virgil Van Djik and Andy Roberston, both of whom have played alongside Kieran have come out with statements of support for the youngster that he has the potential to be a great player in the Premier League. Unai Emery is keen to bolster his defence and has identified the Scottish international as one of his top targets, with Juventus star Daniele Rugani the other.