Ancelotti rules out Napoli move for Celtic player Tierney

and a beautiful occasion. Overall, it was a beautiful day.”

Ancelotti’s admission means that Arsenal – who have had two bids for Tierney turned down because they did not meet Celtic’s £25m valuation for the player – are now the strong favourites to land the Scotland internationalist.

The way their last offer was structured failed to impress the Parkhead club, who signed left back Boli Bolingoli from Rapid Vienna for £3.25 million at the start of this month, but they are believed to be in discussions about a fresh offer.

Ancelotti looks set to persevere with Mario Rui and Faouzi Ghoulam at left back in the 2019/20 campaign even though neither player started the match against Liverpool in Edinburgh yesterday.

Rui was linked with a move to Benfica but will reportedly be staying put in Naples.

“We’re fine on the flanks,” Ancelotti said earlier this week. “Mario Rui and Ghoulam are doing well. Right now we’re a bit unbalanced, but we’re looking at the way the two fullbacks attack. That’s meant we’ve looked a bit foolish at times, but I’d be worried if it were any other way. You need to try things, even with the tiredness we have now, because even when you get things wrong it can teach you something. For example, I’ve learned that you can press hard in the opposition half, even with the full-backs pushed up.”

Celtic manager Neil Lennon, whose team take on Nomme Kalju in the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie in Estonia tomorrow evening, admitted that he expected the Tierney transfer saga to continue until the end of the transfer window unless the player was sold.

“It may rumble on,” he said last week. “I don’t know. Arsenal might be the first of many who raise their head above the parapet.

“Until the window closes, we can’t relax and I’m sure Kieran can’t either. I know, having been in that position myself, how unsettling it is. There’s no question about that.”