By Tam McManus

16th Mar, 2023 | 6:40pm

Pundit claims Kieran Tierney ‘best in the world’ after £30m Aston Villa reveal

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is “one of the best in the world” when fit and it would be “great business” for Aston Villa to sign him this summer.

That is the view of former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about Villa’s links to the 25-year-old full-back.

Tierney has fallen out of favour at The Emirates, with summer arrival Oleksandr Zinchenko currently ahead of him in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order.

The Scotland international has made 27 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners this season, but mostly as a substitute with just two 90-minute matches under his belt in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign.

Football Insider sources revealed last Tuesday (7 March) that Aston Villa have joined Newcastle United in the race to sign £30m-rated Tierney this summer.

McManus raved about Tierney’s ability from his time spent at Celtic and believes he is “too good” to be sitting on the bench at Arsenal.

“I know Kieran Tierney well from his time at Celtic, as a left-back I think he’s one of the best in the world,” McManus told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.

“I’ve absolutely no doubt about that when he’s fit, but his injuries have held him back which is frustrating.

“He’s also run into Zinchenko at Arsenal, who is different class for me.

“Zinchenko is excellent and he seems to be fit all the time, playing regularly, but I think Tierney is far too good to be sitting on the bench.

“Newcastle have been linked, as have Aston Villa, and both are huge clubs in England.

“So I think if he goes somewhere like that and plays every week, then I think £30million would be great business for all involved.“

In other news, Aston Villa ‘forced’ to pay £10m after ex-owner goes ‘off the radar’