Italian heavyweights Napoli are worried they have left the door open for Premier League side Arsenal to seal a deal for Celtic left back Kieran Tierney, according to the Scottish Sun.
The newspaper claims that Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti is being prevented from pulling the trigger on a deal for the Scotland international because he must first sell his own left back Mario Rui.
However, the Portuguese star is thought to have made it clear that he has no interest in departing his current situation in Naples, leaving the former Chelsea manager hamstrung.
Napoli are now fearing that the delay in Rui’s potential exit is going to prevent them from signing the 22-year-old, with Arsenal already having had two bids rejected for Tierney.
Likely to happen?
It’s become a bit of saga with Tierney this summer, hasn’t it? The Scottish Sun’s report states that the most recent offer from the Gunners was £20million up front, with £5million extra in instalments. However, the Hoops have made it clear to Unai Emery’s side that the initial payment needs to be increased.
Napoli are thought to be ready to make a straight £25million deal happen, provided they can get Rui off the books. That, though, seems unlikely at the moment.
So with Arsenal dilly-dallying about the transfer fee and Napoli seemingly stuck in the mud at the moment, there seems to be a very real chance that Tierney will stay at the club this summer.
What’s he done?
Hoops boss Neil Lennon was speaking about the Tierney situation on Tuesday, saying, as per Sky Sports: “They [Arsenal] put a bid in that they valued the player at. They came back again and obviously see Kieran as a very good player, as we do. But on a long-term contract we’re in a very strong position when it comes to Kieran.”
Former Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam also spoke about the youngster earlier this summer, telling the BBC: “I think it’s probably now time for him to leave Celtic. It’s the next progression for his career. Seeing how well Andrew Robertson’s progressed at Liverpool, as a player you’ve got to be thinking, ‘I want some of that’.
“He’s done amazing at Celtic, winning the treble treble. It’s going to be difficult for him to leave because he is a big Celtic fan but if Arsenal do want him, they’ll have to pay serious money for him.”