Arsenal are reportedly in discussions to sign Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares, who is valued at around €17 million by Benfica.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are interested in signing Nuno Tavares in the summer transfer window. The Premier League heavyweights are in direct contact with the representatives of the 21-year-old, who is valued at around €17 million by Benfica.
Nuno Tavares pinballed around a little during his youth footballing days before graduating from the famed Benfica academy in 2018. And after breaking into the first-team setup at the Portuguese club a year later, the 21-year-old has made gradual progress in his career.
To date, the young defender has made 41 appearances for Benfica, with a goal and seven assists to show for his efforts. And despite not being a mainstay for the Eagles, Tavares has his fair share of suitors, with Napoli and Lazio among the clubs keen on signing him. The latest suitor in pursuit of the player are Arsenal, who seem to have instantly stepped up their efforts to sign him.
Arsenal have an urgent need to sign a left-back this summer despite the fact that Kieran Tierney has signed a new long-term contract with the club. Indeed, the Gunners do not have any other natural left-back beyond the Scottish international, especially with Sead Kolasinac likely to be sold this summer.
So, after having deployed the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Cedric Soares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka as makeshift left-backs this past season, Mikel Arteta would be well served to have a proper backup option at his disposal. To that end, Arsenal have been linked with Borna Barisic.
Closer to home, Arsenal also seem to have reignited their interest in Patrick van Aanholt, who is set to become a free agent once his contract with Crystal Palace runs out at the end of this month. And now, Nuno Tavares seems to have popped up on Arsenal’s radar, with the north Londoners already in direct contract with the player’s entourage.
Arsenal are also likely to have a distinct advantage in pursuit of the 21-year-old, valued at around €17 million by Benfica, with his preference being to play in the Premier League. What now remains to be seen is if Arsenal end up launching the offensive for the Portuguese defender and manage to land him ahead of Napoli and Lazio.
