Atalanta will soon revive talks with Arsenal for Nuno Tavares, with the north Londoners open to allowing the 22-year-old to leave on loan.
According to Gianluigi Longari, Serie A giants Atalanta are set for fresh talks with Arsenal to sign Nuno Tavares. Reports suggest the Gunners are open to letting the 22-year-old defender leave on a dry loan after the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Nuno Tavares has been a divisive figure since joining Arsenal last summer. Acquired from Benfica for £7 million, the Portuguese left-back showed plenty of promise in the early months and put in some assured performances while deputising for Kieran Tierney.
While his talent is evident, Arsenal are keen to help him gain experience with regular game-time, which may not be possible under Mikel Arteta next season. However, Tavares’s confidence was shot after a period away from the starting lineup. The 22-year-old was also guilty of a few high-profile errors that cost Arsenal valuable points in their quest to finish in the top four.
Hence, a loan move away from the Emirates could be viable solution for his development. Atalanta and Marseille have shown interest in the Portuguese defender, while Brighton & Hove Albion are also keen to sign him as a replacement for Manchester City target Marc Cucurella.
However, it seems Atalanta are keen to wrap up the signing as widespread reports claim Arsenal could be open to a dry loan. The Gunners were reportedly against including any purchase option, which indicates their belief in Tavares’s potential.
Atalanta are now set to hold fresh talks with Arsenal and understand a deal to take Tavares to Italy. The Gunners might also look at Brighton’s potential offer, as staying in England and playing regularly would be a much better option for the 22-year-old full-back’s development.
However, Arsenal and Atalanta are set to meet and discuss the possibility of wrapping up a deal soon. The Portuguese defender would be integrated into La Dea’s wing-back setup and should excel under Gian Piero Gasperini in Serie A. Tavares may not have a regular place next season, even as a deputy after Oleksandr Zinchenko joined Arsenal.
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Considering there will be the Europa League to contend in, Arteta is keen to keep a compact squad with quality players and may not have room for the 22-year-old. The next few days will determine whether Arsenal are open to letting him join Atalanta or wait for an offer from Brighton. But from the look of things, the Serie A giants will likely sign the left-back, and the latest round of talks will determine his immediate future.
