He's the man on everyone's lips as Kieran Tierney continues to be linked with some of the biggest clubs in the world.
The Arsenal star has been a roaring success on the pitch since leaving boyhood club Celtic in a £25m deal back in 2019. The only knock on the Scotland standout has been a series of injuries that have left him on the sidelines amid Mikel Arteta's men missing out on the Champions League.
Real Madrid and boss Carlo Ancelotti have long admired the rampaging left-back while Barcelona have also been credited with interest in the 25-year-old. Manchester City are also monitoring him closely, as they await an outcome on their pursuit of Brighton standout Marc Cucurella. Arteta retains a close bond with City boss Pep Guardiola.
But any Arsenal exit appears highly unlikely for two key reasons. His back-up Nuno Tavares is already edging towards the exit door with Marseille keen to land the Benfica academy graduate on a loan deal. Former Celtic recruitment chief Lee Congerton admitted this week his current side Atalanta remain admirers of Tavares.
And the second factor centres around Arsenal's pursuit of Lisandro Martinez, with some onlookers pegging the Ajax standout as a viable left-back option.
But that undersells the versatility the Argentina international offers if he leaves Amsterdam for the English Premier League this summer.
Papi Mento from weTalk Ajax, explains: "I wouldn't use him as a full-back or a wing-back because he's not that type of player. He could do it, but he would do it in his own way but don't expect a Kieran Tierney type, so it's better for him to be central, maybe defensive midfield or in the back line with Gabriel [Magalhaes] and Ben White,"
Tierney, amid the injury woe, is adored by Arteta and supporters who are keenly aware how much better their team are when the defender is on the pitch.
And the former Parkhead idol remains very much in the mix to be named the club's permanent captain with a decision expected imminently.
