KIERAN TIERNEY is going nowhere insists Celtic boss Neil Lennon as Arsenal continue to fail to come close to the champions’ valuation of the Scotland international left-back.
The Gunners’ initial bid of £15million was at least £10million short of where the Hoops see the worth of the 22-year-old defender.
The derisory offer – seen as an insult by many, including John Hartson – was booted out by the Parkhead side who are in no rush to part with the player who still has four years to run on his contract.
To put the situation in context, Manchester United are reported to be ready to offer £50million for Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who, at 21, has yet to feature at full international level for England.
Asked if there had been any further bids, Lennon, speaking in the Daily Mail, replied: “Not that I’m aware of.
“Arsenal are aware of what we value the player at. He’s on a long-term contract, he’s an asset and we don’t want to sell him.
“It’s going to have to take a lot more than they’ve offered the first time around to give us a decision to make.
“I’ve had a chat with him as it can be a difficult decision and a bit unsettling. I’ve been there myself, so it’s important we support him regardless of the outcome.
“His fitness progress is slow. It will be a couple of weeks yet.”
The Hoops boss admits the club need to strengthen the No.3 position, regardless if Unai Emery ups his initial offer. Emilio Izaguirre, who made 19 appearances last season while Tierney struggled with the injury that eventually led to a double hernia operation in the summer.
Belgian defender , rated at £3million by Austrian side Vienna Rapid, tops Lennon’s list of left-back targets, as CQN reported at the weekend.
He is still monitoring Nice’s Romain Perraud, but a proposed deal for Copenhagen right-back Peter Ankersen has hit the buffers.
