Things have gone very quiet on the Kieran Tierney to Newcastle United front but former Arsenal player Ray Parlour in still insisting it would be a good move for both parties.
In an interview with JBI Training, Ray Parlour was asked plenty of questions about Arsenal and things turned towards outgoing transfers and Parlour had a lot to say about Arsenal’s £25million signing from Celtic, Kieran Tierney.
The Scotland international left-back was nailed on to join Newcastle this summer according to reports towards the end of last season, but as the window opened all links to Tierney died down.
Newcastle could still be working on the Tierney deal in the background
That’s not necessarily a sign that the move is dead when Newcastle are concerned, in fact, quite the opposite. Newcastle’s transfer deals are often done away from the media and if a link goes dead like the Tierney one has it could mean that things are progressing in the background.
If that is the case, Ray Parlour believes that Newcastle will be getting a brilliant player. When asked if he expects Tierney to leave Arsenal and whether he lived up to expectations, he said: “Kieran’s Arsenal career has been a bit frustrating for him. I really like the lad, I’ve spoken to him on many occasions, and he has really tried to do his best whenever he’s been in the team. He’s had some injury problems as well, which hasn’t helped him.
“The way that Mikel Arteta sets up his team, with [Oleksandr] Zinchenko moving into the midfield, he seems to a better fit for the manager. You can’t ask Tierney to perform that Zinchenko role – he is an out-and-out left-sided player that loves to get forward and hug the touchline. Sometimes certain players don’t click in certain teams.”
The way Parlour describes how Tierney plays sounds like he suits Newcastle more than Arsenal, and he clearly feels the same as he continued: “If Tierney were to join Newcastle, I think he would be a great signing for them. Arsenal will need to balance the books this summer. If a player isn’t happy with his situation at the club or feels he should be starting more games, then sometimes you need to move them on.
Ray Parlour says Tiernery’s time at Arsenal has been ‘frustrating’
“I think if you wanted to use a word to sum up Kieran’s time at the club it would be frustrating. He’s suffered some nasty injuries that have stopped him from holding down a starting place in the team. He is a top player and a top guy. Whichever club he joins if he does leave will be getting a brilliant player. “
Parlour mentioned his injuries and that’s the big question mark many fans hold over the move. It’s a valid concern, but Eddie Howe has shown he knows how to manage injury prone players – just look at how much football Callum Wilson played last season.
I’m still a big fan of Tierney and would love to see him at Newcastle. Yes we have been linked with some top quality players in that position, but Tierney just fits … if he stays fit.
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