Arsenal have heightened their interest in Kieran Tierney after Unai Emery identified the defender as his top left back target.

The Spaniard is convinced the 22-year-old can make the jump from the Premiership to the top end of the English Premier League and has told his board that the Scot is the kind of signing who can help drag the club out of its current malaise.

Without the Champions League windfall of his rivals after finishing fifth last season, Emery will try to make up the ground on Manchester City and Liverpool on a comparatively modest budget.

Unai Emery has identified Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney as his top left back target

The Spaniard believes Tierney can make the step-up to the upper end of the Premier League

But with Tierney contracted to Celtic until 2023, Arsenal would have to table a multi-million-pound offer for them to even consider accepting it - with a fee comparable to the £20m Lyon spent on Moussa Dembele.

Sportsmail understands Emery sees that outlay as a shrewd investment, with a solid bid potentially landing on Celtic's doorstep in the coming days.

Tierney has always insisted that he would be happy to emulate the likes of Billy McNeill and Paul McStay by becoming one of Celtic's great one-club men.

But with Andy Robertson now a Champions League winner with Liverpool and Scotland captain, Tierney may find the chance of a place at the top end of the Premier League too good a prospect to turn down.

Arsenal are expected to make an offer in the coming days but Celtic will only accept a large bid

Celtic were drawn against Bosnian champions FK Sarajevo in the first qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday. The first leg is provisionally due to take place in Glasgow on July 9/10 with the return in Bosnia on July 16/17. The loser of the tie will be a given a bye to the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

Owned by Cardiff owner Vincent Tan, FK are managed by former Hearts striker Husref Musemic.

Reacting to the draw, Tierney was adamant that the squad would be ready for such an early challenge.

'It's such a short break, so we're not coming back unfit,' he said. 'We'll lose a bit but we're still coming back in good shape and good condition. We'll be ready for the challenges ahead.'