Van Dijk insists Tierney would be a huge hit in the English top flight

LIVERPOOL superstar Virgil van Dijk has backed his former Celtic team-mate Kieran Tierney to be a smash hit in the English Premier League if a £25million move to Arsenal is concluded. Napoli are out of the running after boss Carlo Ancelotti confirmed at the weekend that, although a huge admirer of the Scotland full-back, he is not interested in signing him. The 22-year-old has been the subject of two bids from the Gunners this summer,

but the conditions attached have seen their offers rejected by the Scottish champions. Arsenal have until the closing of the summer transfer window on August 8 to seal a move. Champions League winner Van Dijk, who joined Southampton from Celtic for £13m in 2015 before moving to Liverpool in a world-record £75m deal two years later, believes Tierney would similarly thrive down south. The Dutch international said: ‘I remember Kieran Tierney made his debut against Dundee when I was at Celtic (in April 2015). I scored a free-kick to make it 2-1 and then Kieran came on and helped us get the win. ‘Arsenal are now interested in signing Kieran? It is not an easy step to make to go down to the English Premier League and you have to play well to do it — but Kieran has the qualities to succeed.’ Van Dijk enjoyed being back in Scotland on Sunday despite Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat by Napoli in a pre-season friendly at a packed BT Murrayfield. Among those watching in Edinburgh was Celtic captain Scott Brown. ‘I didn’t realise Scott Brown was there at the game,’ said Van Dijk. ‘He’s a great guy. He should have texted me but I don’t think he has my number. ‘I enjoyed it a lot, being back in Scotland. It is always great to be back here. The last time I was here it was with my national team when we played Scotland at Pittodrie in November 2017, so it has been a while. But it has always been good to be back in Scotland.’