PIF still keen on signing “top-level” player; same agent as Pope

Newcastle United are still keen on signing Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney this summer, according to a new report.

The Magpies and Eddie Howe have been active so far this summer, making three new signings ahead of the 2023/24 season as they get ready for Champions League action.

The first to join was winger Yankuba Minteh from Danish club Odense, but the teenager has since been loaned out to Feyenoord for the next season.

Midfielder Sandro Tonali was the first big-name signing from AC Milan, and the Italian has recently been followed by winger Harvey Barnes from Leicester City. In total, Newcastle have spent just under £100m (€116m), but it seems as if more additions could be on the way.

At full-back, Southampton’s Tino Livramento has been linked with a move to St James’ Park, but the Saints want £50m for him, whereas Newcastle offered around £30m.

Another defender who is believed to be on the list is Tierney, but since reports earlier in the window said Newcastle were in front of the queue to sign the Scot, rumours have gone relatively quiet.

The Evening Standard reported on Tierney in the last 48 hours, though, saying he is drawing interest from several clubs but only naming Newcastle, and by extension owners PIF, as one of the sides who are still interested.

However, the full-back is not eager to leave the Emirates Stadium and has said he would leave any decision to Arsenal.

“It’s not really up to me. I’m happy, I’m working hard every day and getting minutes. I’m just trying to do as well as I can.

“You can’t play every single game, every single season, every single year. I don’t expect that and I still made a lot of appearances last year.”

At the start of the summer, it was thought that Arsenal would ask for more than £30m for the left-back, so he could be seen as a slightly cheaper option than Livramento.

Stan Collymore called Tierney a “top-level” player, and he earns £120,000-a-week and has the same agent as Nick Pope, which could help in any possible transfer talks.

He could add more of an attacking threat to Howe’s team, with Dan Burn becoming Newcastle’s first-choice left-back last season. However, the 31-year-old has mostly played as a centre-back in his career and has been involved in 23 goals in 432 games, while Tierney has 64 goal involvements in 295 games, with many of them coming for Celtic.

Tierney also has a good record against Newcastle, winning all three games he has played against them, and it seems like a move for the Arsenal defender could be one to watch over the next few weeks. Who knows, it might be a deal that picks up speed later in the window, especially if Newcastle keep finding it hard to sign Livramento.