Charles Watts thinks that Arsenal tying Kieran Tierney down to a long-term deal is one of the more important things that Arsenal can do this summer.
The Scottish defender, valued at £27m on Transfermarkt, has had his time at the Emirates somewhat disrupted by a series of injuries since he arrived in the summer of 2019. But he has certainly made good use of his time whenever he has been available, becoming arguably one of their more important players.
And even though he still has a contract in place until the summer of 2024, speaking on the latest edition of his show, Watts thinks that tying him down to an even longer deal has to be one of their priorities in the coming months:
“Arsenal have to make getting Kieran Tierney tied down to a long-term contract absolutely essential.
“He has still got three years left on his deal that he signed when he arrived that goes until 2024, but even now in the modern-day, if you don’t get him signed up this year, then suddenly it goes down to the following summer and then you’ve only got two years and then you’re in that really awkward position where you have to get it done otherwise he goes to the final year.
“So I think this is when you got to start doing it, three years out from their contract, especially when it’s a player like Kieran Tierney, who’s young, who in my mind is an absolute nailed-on future captain of this football club.”
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TIF Thoughts on Charles Watts’ comments regarding Kieran Tierney’s future at the club…
Watts’ comments echo those made by former Scotland international Barry Ferguson (Go Radio, via The Daily Record) who says that they need to tie him down to keep him away from the likes of Manchester City.
And doing so with Tierney would certainly show a level of intent from Arsenal that they want to keep their big players, unlike the days of the 2010s when the club sold the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri among others.
They’ve already taken one of those steps with the extension handed out to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last summer, and doing the same to someone like Tierney would just continue to send that message.
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