With a blockbuster summer season switch window looming only a few months away, it seems Kieran Tierney may very well be one in all this 12 months's primary characters.
The Arsenal and Scotland star has been touted as a goal for none aside from Actual Madrid in latest weeks, with Florentino Perez mentioned to be decided to dealer a deal.
Tierney has change into an integral a part of Mikel Arteta's rebuild on the Emirates, one which now seems to be gathering critical tempo.
The Gunners have gained six of their final seven to surge into the Premier League high 4, placing them in pole place to say the ultimate Champions League place for subsequent season.
It is maybe no coincidence that simply when Madrid's curiosity has bubbled to the floor, so too has discuss of Tierney turning into Arsenal captain.
Membership legend Ray Parlour has been amongst large names to place the 24-year-old ahead for the function.
Signal as much as our File Sport e-newsletter
Get all the most recent Sports activities information despatched straight to your Inbox on daily basis by signing as much as our e-newsletter.
We cowl each morsel of knowledge concerning your favorite membership within the type of articles, movies and podcasts.
The e-newsletter will arrive on daily basis at 12pm, providing you with a spherical up of the perfect tales we have lined that within the final 24 hours.
To enroll, merely enter your e mail deal with into the hyperlink right here.
And in the event you aren't already, be sure to be a part of the dialog over on our Fb teams and File Sport Instagram.
And that decision has now been echoed by Paul Dickov, a fellow Scot who performed for the London membership between 1990 and 1996.
“Kieran Tierney's only a fantastic participant, not simply as a defender,” mentioned Dickov at an OLBG media occasion. “Nevertheless it's very uncommon you see a defender who likes to defend as nicely. The trendy defender prefers to play out and better up the pitch, however Kieran thrives on his defensive duties.
“He is obtained a lot high quality going ahead and with out sounding disrespectful to Arsenal, I am amazed that there weren’t extra golf equipment in for him.
“I've watched him from a younger age at Celtic and when he signed for Arsenal, I assumed that was a improbable signing. You might see at a younger age the standard he had, he brings a lot to the crew and he is a pacesetter. He is a winner and I believe going ahead he'll be made Arsenal captain.”
Dickov has little doubt Tierney has what it takes to play for Los Blancos - however he simply cannot see his previous membership letting the previous Celtic star go.
He does, nonetheless, admit that the participant's personal ambitions may very well be a pivotal issue.
“I believe Kieran would cope anyplace, not solely due to his capability, however due to his professionalism and his perspective,” he mentioned. “He does every little thing proper and he works actually arduous on his recreation.
“But when I am being sincere, I will be amazed if Arsenal let him go.
"Mikel Arteta is constructing one thing there on the minute, it is a good younger facet with a mixture of expertise in it.
“I believe I can see Kieran Tierney being Arsenal captain for a protracted, very long time and it will come down as to whether he needs to depart or not as nicely, however I do not know.
“However I might be amazed with the choice if he left. Arsenal are constructing one thing beneath Arteta and I might be stunned in the event that they let among the finest gamers go.
"They've carried out that so many instances previously and I believe it is time for Arsenal to cease that development in the event that they wish to construct for the longer term.”