Aston Villa hope to rival Newcastle United for the signing of Kieran Tierney this summer, according to a report.

The Telegraph report that Aston Villa’s strong form under Unai Emery has convinced the club to back him in the summer market, and one of their transfer targets is Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney.

Newcastle United are also in the race for Tierney, and they remain the favourites for the signing as it stands. But Villa are weighing up a move all the same.

Despite having a deal with Arsenal until 2026, Tierney is increasingly expected to leave the club in the summer. His minutes have decreased since the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko, and there appears to be plenty of interest in him from elsewhere.

The Evening Standard reported earlier this year that Tierney is open to a move to Newcastle this summer, though Arsenal hadn’t decided whether to sell at the time.

Villa were also mentioned as a potential bidder back in March, and it seems their recent form has only cemented that status in the race.

Villa currently sit in eighth, but their run up the table has put them in contention for European football next season.

They’re just two goals behind Tottenham Hotspur in seventh – a Europa Conference League qualification spot – with a game against Spurs still to come.

With a nine-point gap to fourth, however, the Champions League looks to be out of sight, and that gives Newcastle an advantage in the race for Tierney.