According to reports in Italy, Atalanta have begun talks with Arsenal over a loan deal for the Gunners’ full-back, Nuno Tavares. The Serie A side are looking to being in a replacement for Robin Gosens and have identified the Portuguese defender as a good fit.
Arsenal bought the 22-year-old last season from Benfica in a deal worth €8 million plus add-ons. Tavares has made 22 appearances in the Premier League, playing 1,170 minutes in total (stats via Transfermarkt), most of which were deemed to be disappointing. The Portuguese was brought in mainly to deputise for Kieran Tierney, who had suffered a season-ending injury during the end half of Arsenal’s recently concluded season.
Touted to be a long-term stay at the Emirates as a gradually growing talent, Tavares has failed to impress, albeit, having to fill the shoes, so early, of Kieran Tierney who was supposed to be the mainstay starter and bear the majority of the workload on the left-hand side for Arsenal.
According to Gazetta dello Sport (via Metro), Atalanta have expressed interested in signing Nuno Tavares on a loan deal. Negotiations have been set up between the two clubs over a potential move for the left-back in this summer transfer window.
The Italian club saw their star left winger/left-back, Robin Gosens, leave the club on loan, with an obligation to buy, to league rivals Inter Milan. Nuno Tavares, with his blistering pace and eager forward intent that translate into his dribbles and crosses, can be a suitable replacement for the gap left by Gosens in the current Atalanta outfit.
However, Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio (via 101 Great Goals) stated that Arsenal have responded with high expectations. The Gunners have set a €40 million release clause on the Portuguese defender if the Serie A side wish to sign the player on a permanent basis. As an alternative, the Gunners are willing to offer the player on a “dry” loan spell.
Atalanta director Lee Congerton on Nuno Tavares deal with Arsenal: “I follow Tavares since he was playing for Benfica’s youth team, he’s a strong player”. 🔵🇵🇹 #AFC
“But Tavares’ under contract with Arsenal – and it’s really difficult to sign players from Premier League clubs”. pic.twitter.com/WDrHMHt3fI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 22, 2022
Nuno Tavares has emerged as a raw talent for the North London side, a prospect that can be polished into a world-class full-back. If the move were to materialise, it is reported that Arsenal have already identified Bologna’s Aaron Hickey as a potential replacement. Atalanta wish to sign Nuno Tavares on loan with an option to buy, but the club also consider Arsenal’s asking price for a permanent transfer to be too high.
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Arsenal have already completed their third signing of the season after acquiring Fabio Vieira from FC Porto for around £30 million with an additional £4 million in add-ons, Matt Turner from the MLS, and young Brazilian winger Marquinhos from Sao Paulo.
With Kieran Tierney as the main man, the club are looking for solid backup options who could even compete for the starting spots with the Scot. Names like Zinchenko and Hickey can serve that purpose while Tavares can hone his skills in the Italian team that failed to make it into any European competition altogether after securing the eighth position in the Serie A last season.
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