For a long time this summer, it felt like Newcastle United and Kieran Tierney were on a collision course.
The Arsenal defender was heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park earlier this year, with Eddie Howe very keen to bring the 26-year-old to Tyneside.
It felt like a deal was likely, with Tierney eager to leave Arsenal due to falling down the pecking order at the Emirates. It was even reported that he was expected to sign for the Magpies.
Then talk of a move went quiet, before he returned to the gossip columns earlier this month. Newcastle looked into signing Tierney on loan with an option or obligation to buy, only to then turn their attention to someone else.
Newcastle have now done that deal, but for Lewis Hall rather than Tierney. The 18-year-old is now a Toon player, and is excited about what the future holds under Howe.
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As for Tierney, he remains at Arsenal, and time is running out for him to secure a move away.
Journalist thought Kieran Tierney would sign for Newcastle
Journalist and Arsenal expert Charles Watts has spoke to TeamTalk about Tierney’s future, and has admitted that he is really surprised that Newcastle have gone for Hall over the £25million Scotland international.
“Newcastle have signed Lewis Hall now so that’s one potential exit route closed for Tierney which was a surprise. I thought he’d go to Newcastle,” he said.
“There’s lots of doors that seem to be closing for Tierney. I don’t know what Newcastle’s scouting department has seen and recommended.
“But clearly they felt that Hall was a better long-term investment than Kieran Tierney. Tierney’s a fantastic left-back, who would have suited Newcastle really well. But obviously the scouting department felt differently. Hall looks like a decent player in the few games that I’ve seen him.
“But if you’ve got a choice between Kieran Tierney and Lewis Hall for around the same sort of transfer fee, for me, there’s only one player I’m signing there and it’s not Hall.”
Newcastle thinking long-term
Watts is critical of Newcastle’s decision to sign Hall over Tierney, but it feels like he is missing the point.
The Magpies have bought potential. They have invested in a player who they think is going to develop into a top class star.
In contrast, signing Tierney would be a rebuilding project. He is 26 and should be coming into his peak years as a footballer.
While Tierney is better than Hall right now, the teenager has a higher ceiling. And that is why Newcastle opted to sign him from Chelsea rather than take Tierney off of Arsenal’s hands.