Real Sociedad have now made Arsenal an enquiry to discuss the potential of a transfer for Kieran Tierney against interest from Celtic in the left-back’s signature this summer.
That is according to The Sun, which reports that Real Sociedad have been tracking Tierney’s situation at Arsenal this off-season. The 26-year-old has faced an uncertain future in north London given Mikel Arteta ignored his availability last season and has signed Jurrien Timber.
Arsenal bought Timber from AFC Ajax to strengthen Arteta’s depth at right-back beyond Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares. But the Spaniard has favoured the Dutchman ahead of Tierney to understudy for Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back since his arrival in July.
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Real Sociedad approach Arsenal after Arteta snubs Tierney again
Arteta has tried to reassure Tierney that he still has a future with Arsenal four years on from leaving Celtic. Unai Emery paid the Hoops a Scottish record £25m for the defender in August 2019. But the 38-cap Scotland defender remains the subject of interest for a possible move.
Real Sociedad have now contacted Arsenal to sound out the potential for a loan transfer for Tierney. Anoeta Stadium chiefs have moved after Arteta only named the £110k-a-week star on his bench for the Community Shield. Tierney played 14 minutes at Wembley last Sunday.
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Arteta often overlooked Tierney last term as Arsenal secured their return to the Champions League, too. The Isle of Man native only played 776 minutes in the Premier League from 27 appearances. He further only started in six games despite being fit for all 38 of their games.
The Txuri-Urdinak are confident that Tierney would improve manager Imanol Alguacil’s team ahead of their return to the Champions League. Real Sociedad have qualified for UEFA’s elite club competition for the first time in 10 years. They finished the last La Liga season in fourth.
Tierney is open to a loan transfer back to Celtic this summer
Celtic have also kept tabs on Tierney’s availability for a possible return transfer from Arsenal this summer, though. And The Sun also reported this June that the defender would consider leaving Emirates Stadium for a return to Glasgow. But a loan move could be tough to secure.
Arsenal will demand a substantial fee and guarantees that at least some of Tierney’s wage is also covered to grant him a loan transfer to Celtic or Real Sociedad. The Bhoys product, who boss Brendan Rodgers called ‘unique’, remains under contract in north London to June 2026.