Mikel Arteta is facing an Arsenal transfer dilemma (Image: Getty)
Kieran Tierney’s injury at Euro 2024 may be set to impact Arsenal’s transfer plans. The defender was taken off on a stretcher during Scotland’s draw with Switzerland on Wednesday with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Tierney was devastated and covered his face as he was taken off. He had gone down holding his hamstring after an innocuous tussle with Switzerland forward Dan Ndoye.
The 27-year-old has endured a tough year with hamstring issues. Arsenal sent him on loan to Real Sociedad last season but his impact was limited by the problem. His two hamstring injuries meant he played in just 20 La Liga matches and 27 games in total.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are keen to sell Tierney this summer. The transfer fees they receive for players will likely go towards upgrading Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
But the Gunners are unlikely to receive the kind of fee they want for Tierney with clubs concerned over his injury history. Even if he is fit to return to pre-season with Arsenal, interested parties are likely to only want to pay a cut-price fee for a star whose struggles with fitness are well documented.
Tierney has not played in the Premier League since May 2023, instead spending last season on loan at La Real. Arsenal’s main concern will be his wellbeing as he looks almost certain to miss the remainder of Scotland’s Euro 2024 campaign.
Manager Steve Clarke confirmed that Tierney will definitely be sidelined for the crunch Group A clash with Hungary on Sunday. But the apparent severity of the injury suggests he would play no part even if Scotland did manage to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Clarke said: “He’s definitely out [of the Hungary match]. It looks pretty bad, but Kieran won’t make the next game.
Kieran Tierney was helped onto a stretcher after suffering what seemed to be a hamstring injury (Image: Getty)
“You have to feel for him. He’s a top player for us, and someone else has got to step up.”
Scotland produced a hugely improved performance against Switzerland, having been thumped 5-1 by Germany in the opening game of the tournament. Scott McTominay’s early strike deflected in via Newcastle defender Fabian Schar.
A wonderful strike by former Liverpool and Stoke attacker Xherdan Shaqiri levelled the score. Neither side could find a winning goal in the second half.
Meanwhile, Arsenal seem set to replenish their squad over the coming months. A new centre-forward is high on the agenda at the Emirates Stadium.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1913284/Arsenal-transfer-Euro-2024-injury-Mikel-Arteta