'Don't want to negotiate...' - Romano admits Arsenal's summer business is on hold for key reason

Fabrizio Romano claimed that Arsenal are not negotiating Kieran Tierney’s exit due to their title charge.

The Gunners are looking to reclaim their eight-point lead over Manchester City at the Premier League summit when they take on Leeds United on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s men are just 10 wins away from securing the club’s first league title since Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles in 2004.

Arsenal’s success this term has been partly down to the club’s summer recruitment. Indeed, the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko in particular have elevated the north London side from top-four hopefuls to genuine title contenders.

Of course, Zinchenko’s arrival has meant Tierney’s game time has been restricted. Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, the 25-year-old has featured in Arsenal’s starting XI for just 14 per cent of the club’s Premier League games.

In turn, the Scotland international is likely to depart in the summer.

Tierney to leave Arsenal

While Romano claimed that it was likely Tierney would leave Arsenal in the summer, the club has halted any negotiations as they close in on the title.

Writing in his Caught Offside column, Romano said: “Kieran Tierney has a genuine chance to leave Arsenal in the summer.

“This is a possibility but Arsenal don’t want to negotiate now.

“They decided internally that there must be full focus on winning the Premier League; the big dream!

“So there is no intention to distract the players including those who are not regular starters.

“In the summer, Arsenal will discuss Tierney’s situation at the end of the season but the defender definitely has the opportunity to experience something new.”

Since moving to Arsenal in 2019 Tierney has gone on to feature in 115 matches in all competitions, directly contributing to 19 goals along the way.