West Ham United want to sign Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney as Mikel Arteta stance emerges
West Ham United want to sign Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney this summer after his lack of minutes this season caught their attention, say 90min.
The Scotland international has lost his place in the side to Oleksandr Zinchenko, and the 25-year-old is open to an exit for more regular football elsewhere.
Now the Hammers have been linked with a move for him in the summer, with 90min (8 March) sharing that Mikel Arteta wants to keep the four-time Scottish Premiership champion but is aware that a lack of regular football is an issue for him.
“Sources have told 90min that Tierney has at no point questioned his role within Arsenal’s squad, but his lack of minutes has piqued the attention of a number of other clubs,” they wrote.
“90min understands that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would love to keep Tierney in north London for the long-term, but the Spaniard recognises that a lack of regular first team football may become an issue for the 35-cap Scotland international.
“Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is a confirmed admirer of Tierney, having previously worked with him at Celtic, while Aston Villa, West Ham and Leeds are also believed to keeping tabs on his situation.”
Quality
It should be fair to assume that David Moyes knows all about Tierney’s qualities considering he is a long-time Scotland international and has been great in the Premier League for several years.
But Zinchenko’s ability to move into midfield and quality in possession has meant that Tierney isn’t a regular starter anymore, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t good enough to be a regular in the league.
With Aaron Cresswell way beyond his best now, and Emerson Palmieri failing to impress too much since his transfer from Chelsea in the summer, left-back is a position that still needs upgrading for the Hammers.
One potential problem in the deal could obviously emerge if Moyes doesn’t keep his job going forward into next season, or if worst case scenario the team were to be relegated, but they’re certainly one of the top options that Tierney would have.
Alongside the millions of Newcastle, it’s unlikely that Tierney would get another Champions League club in England, so the Hammers being able to push for Europe again would be a big reason for him to join the club.