Newcastle United have reportedly ended their interest in Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney in this summer's transfer window.
The 26-year-old was on the fringes of Mikel Arteta's preferred XI as the Gunners finished second in the Premier League last season, with the defender making just six top-flight starts.
Tierney was often kept out of the North London side by new arrival Oleksandr Zinchenko - a player who Arteta had worked with successfully when they were both under Pep Guardiola's tutelage at Manchester City.
The Scotland international has featured 124 times for the Gunners since making the switch from Celtic in August 2019, scoring five goals and helping the club to an FA Cup triumph in the 2019-20 season.
According to Football Insider, Tierney's possible move to Newcastle United is off, with the Magpies cooling their interest in the defender as the transfer window reaches its conclusion.
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It is understood that Eddie Howe's men and the player's representatives have been in discussions throughout the summer regarding a potential switch to St James' Park, however the North-East giants have now pulled the plug on the deal.
The report claims that this is due to Newcastle focusing on other targets at left-back in the last few weeks, one of which being Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall.
It is believed that the Champions League-bound Magpies and the Blues have agreed a loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of the 2023-24 term for 18-year-old, with a fee which could rise to £35m.
Newcastle are set to pay an initial £28m sum for the England Under-21 international, with a further £7m potentially arriving in the form of performance-related bonuses.
Following the long-term injury sustained by Ben Chilwell last season, Hall was afforded an unlikely opportunity in the Chelsea first team, making nine appearances in the Premier League, eight of which came from the start.
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With Tierney no longer moving to the North-East, Arsenal have a decision to make on whether to allow the left-back to leave in the remaining weeks of the summer window.
New signing Jurrien Timber suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Gunners' Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest last Saturday, meaning that the Scotsman may be handed more game time if he stays at the Emirates Stadium.
The 39-time international did not make Arsenal's matchday squad for their success over the Tricky Trees, although he did feature for 14 minutes in their Community Shield victory over Manchester City a week earlier.
Tierney will hope to be involved when the Gunners travel to Selhurst Park on Monday night, when a meeting with Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace will take place.
Carter White
