Arsenal have identified a replacement for Kieran Tierney amid growing speculation that the Scotland international will leave the club this summer.
The former Celtic defender was left out of Mikel Arteta's squad completely as the Gunners got off to a winning start in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest.
Tierney's omission was all the more surprising given Oleksandr Zinchenko also missed the clash through injury.
Central midfielder Thomas Partey ended up filling in at left-back, which fueled speculation that Tierney would be leaving the club before the window is shut.
Newcastle, Celtic and La Liga outfit Real Sociedad have all been linked with the 26-year-old in recent weeks, but remains to be seen where he will end up.
Now the Daily Mail report that Arsenal have pinpointed Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo as a possible replacement.
The Portuguese star has fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola and spent time on loan at Bayern Munich last season.
It emerged earlier this week that Newcastle are maintaining their long-standing interest in Tierney as head coach Eddie Howe targets one final summer signing.
The Magpies have been admirers of the Scotland international since his time at Celtic and have monitored his situation, particularly this summer.
His price-tag, which is reportedly in the region of £30million, has proved an obstacle for a series of suitors to date, but it is understood Newcastle have tested the waters once again as the summer transfer deadline approaches.
Head coach Howe revealed on Friday that he hoped to be able to add one more signing to those of the expensively-assembled trio of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento he has already drafted in.
However, he admitted the club might have to be “creative” in its approach after a net outlay of around £95million, and suggested loan deals or staggered payments might be the way forward.
While Howe remained coy over the position he is trying to fill, he perhaps has the least cover at the back and a further addition in that department would come as no surprise.
Tierney joined the Gunners in a £25million move from Celtic in August 2019 and was used as a substitute in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City.
The Magpies have also been linked with a loan move for Chelsea’s £60million man Marc Cucurella, who was not involved in new boss Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive game, Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Liverpool.
