Sky Sports pundit: Man United will regret not signing 22-year-old
Charlie Nicholas questions why Man United didn't look to sign Arsenal target Kieran Tierney
Manchester United should have tried to sign Celtic defender Kieran Tierney rather than Arsenal, according to Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.
The Gunners finally confirmed a deal to sign the 22-year-old Scotland international on deadline day after having been linked with him throughout the 2019 summer transfer window following Tierney’s impressive performances for the Scottish side.
Arsenal have Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal who can play at left-back in Unai Emery’s current squad but the Spanish head coach clearly felt this position was an area of weakness.
However, former Arsenal midfielder Nicolas believes that the Gunners didn’t need Tierney.
The Sky Sports pundit went on to add that Tierney is a better left-back that Manchester United’s player of the year Luke Shaw.
“Kieran Tierney should be asking himself if this is the right time to join Arsenal,” Nicholas told the Daily Express, as quoted by Metro, before the deal was confirmed.
“I just don’t see how a left-back is a priority for my old club. Arsenal need a centre-back or even two before they should even be considering a full-back.
“Arsenal are a top-six side but they are probably short of the top four. If Tierney goes to the Emirates it will be far from ideal for him with the quality of the other Arsenal defenders.
“Tierney will need time to settle and adjust himself but it remains to be seen who he would have around him. Laurent Koscielny wants out, Shkodran Mustafi needs sold and Sokratis has struggled.
“Outside of that all they have is a lot of promising kids. My disappointment for Tierney is that Arsenal are the only big Premier League club that has shown an interest.
“I’m surprised Manchester United haven’t come in, because he is a better player than Luke Shaw.”
Arsenal have also signed Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli, Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba, Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, Chelsea FC defender David Luiz and Lille winger Nicolas Pepe this summer.
The Gunners finished in fifth place in the Premier League table last season and a point ahead of bitter rivals Manchester United.
Emery’s side lost 4-1 to Chelsea FC in the Europa League final in Baku last term.
The north London side haven’t won the Premier League title since 2004.
