Celtic manager confirms Arsenal interest in 22-year-old defender

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has acknowledged that Arsenal are interested in signing Kieran Tierney, although they are yet to meet the asking price for the Scotland international.

The north London giants are deemed to have failed with an initial £18m bid for the left-sided defender and reports have since emerged that the Hoops want at least £25m with another £5m in the form of add-ons.

In a report covered by The Telegraph, Lennon said that the Gunners need to increase their transfer package significantly in order to hold any chance of landing the young defender.

"Arsenal are aware of what we value the player at. He is on a long-term contract, he is an asset and we don't want to sell him. It is going to take a lot more than what they have offered the first time around to give us a decision to make," he told.

Tierney, who has been with Celtic throughout his career, has four years remaining on his existing deal with the club. He was linked with Manchester United in the past before they committed Luke Shaw to a new long-term deal.