Arsenal hope Kieran Tierney can help secure January signing of former Celtic team-mate

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Arsenal hope Kieran Tierney can help the club pursue a move for Celtic star Ryan Christie, according to reports. Christie has emerged as another target for the Gunners as they look to add a creative midfielder to their squad. Tierney played alongside Christie at Celtic for four years and the Scottish pair are international team-mates.

Arsenal are in the market for an attacking midfielder having scored just 16 goals in as many Premier League games this season.

Real Madrid star Isco, Lyon’s Houssem Aouar, Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia and Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt are four of the names linked with a move to the Gunners.

But it now appears Christie can be added to that list.

The 25-year-old joined Celtic from Inverness in 2015 and has made 123 appearances for the Hoops, as well as having a loan spell at Aberdeen between 2017 and 2018.

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90min.com say Christie is considering his options, with his Celtic contract set to expire in 2022.

Leicester, Newcastle, Southampton, Brighton and Burnley are all listed as potential suitors for Christie.

However, Arsenal are now showing an interest in the midfielder.

Christie would be a cheaper option than some of Arsenal’s other targets in the position.

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The report states Christie and Tierney still share a hotel room while on international duty and that Arsenal think that could put them in a good position to seal a deal if they were to make an official approach.

A substantial offer would be required to sign Christie, who has registered three goals and six assists in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal announced on Thursday that left-back Sead Kolasinac will rejoin Schalke on loan this month.

Speaking at his press conference this week, Mikel Arteta insisted he wants to trim his squad.

“Well, we have a large squad, we knew that and a lot of things we wanted to do in the summer, we couldn’t accomplish for different reasons,” Arteta said.

“There are some players that are going to go on loan, they are going to leave, and that’s the priority at the moment.

“We cannot sustain the numbers that we have in terms of substitutions.

“We are looking to do that and then we will see if we have the right opportunities in the positions that we need some more help.

“We are working with the club to find that.”

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