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Sutton: Tierney as good as Wan-Bissaka

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Image for Sutton: Tierney as good as Wan-Bissaka

Chris Sutton has said that Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney is “every bit as good” as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and that Celtic should demand a similar fee for the 22-year-old. 

Palace’s right-back is on the brink of a £50million move to Man United, where he’s scheduled to take a medical and become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing of the summer.

According to the Guardian, Arsenal have had a bid of £15million for Tierney rejected by Celtic who are holding out for £25million. Arsenal are hoping the deal can be done at £18million.

Sutton claimed that Scottish players can get sold for less than their true market value. He pointed out John Stones going for £50million while Virgil van Dijk was sold by Celtic for £13million.

VERDICT

Sutton has got a point but part of the reason is the standard of football in Scotland. Players that have proved themselves in the Premiership have to then go and do it in the Premier League, which is a big step up. The price United have agreed for Wan-Bissaka is high, even in today’s inflated market. He becomes the most expensive player with fewer 50 appearances. However, his potential is enormous. Tierney has long been tagged as one of Celtic’s most valuable assets but, with all due respect to Celtic and to Sutton, the Scottish champions aren’t going to get anywhere near £50million for him, and they’ll do well to get £25million. When van Dijk was sold by Celtic, the big clubs weren’t in for him. He had to prove himself at Southampton before Liverpool became interested. And there isn’t a queue of big clubs in for Tierney. Celtic’s record fee received is almost £20million for Moussa Dembele and if they can beat that with Tierney they’ll have done very well indeed. 

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