Arsenal have been derided over the last week or so for their negotiating tactics, putting in low bids for players that they must know in advance are going to be rejected out of hand.
But an integral part of negotiations is to get the targetted player on board which then forces the selling club to the table simply because once a player gets unsettled that does create an issue for that particular selling club.
That is what appears to be happening at Celtic with Kieran Tierney.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon has admitted that the 22-year-old defender has been unsettled by the speculation over his future.
Additionally and more importantly Lennon has confirmed that to his knowledge no second bid has been tabled.
“As I said last week, the first offer wasn’t what we’d look for and I don’t think we’ve had another one yet,” Lennon said.
“It’s as you were. Will it rumble on? Probably.
“These things take their course whether it happens or not. We have a price for our player. He’s on an long-term contract and we won’t sell him for anything less than we feel is the right price.
“It can be unsettling but he’s been okay. He’s not really training with the group but hopefully we’ll see him on the training ground in a week or two.
“In terms of where he is mentally, it’s got to be unsettling for him, it’s only natural.”
In better words, Arsenal has put their bid in, they have sat back and allowed their offer to works its magic on Tierney, get him unsettled and then they will go in with their second bid which is almost certain to be below the £25 Million Celtic want.
This could easily force the Hoops to re-evaluate their valuation, I mean, do they really want an unhappy player in their squad?
Of course, Celtic could easily tell Arsenal to take a running jump and stand their ground but it never quite works out that way once a players mentality and emotional state have been disturbed.
Maybe, just maybe, Arsenal knew what they were doing all the time and it is now bearing fruit.
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