Newspaper O Jogo is reporting that Arsenal will only let Nuno Tavares leave if they are able to sign an apt replacement for him.
Atalanta and most recently Marseille have shown an interest in signing the full-back, with the latter exploring a loan deal for the upcoming season.
While Mikel Arteta is open to letting Tavares leave but he will only sanction a move once Edu can bring in a backup for Kieran Tierney.
The 22-year-old might have been really underwhelming last season but if he leaves, there will be no proper backup for Tierney and the last thing the Arsenal manager will want is to wreck the defensive stability once again.
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
Do Arsenal have any replacements for Nuno Tavares?
For the longest time, Arsenal were said to be close to signing Aaron Hickey from Bologna but now it seems like he is going to join Brentford.
Arsenal had been monitoring the young left-back but David Ornstein reported for The Athletic that Hickey wasn’t close to joining them at any stage.
The Hickey rumours have died down in the previous one or two weeks and now, Arsenal are focusing on signing Lisandro Martinez from Ajax
Martinez is primarily a centre-back but can also play on the left-hand side of defence and Arteta wants to sign him as the backup to Tierney.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Arsenal have made fresh contacts with Lisandro Martinez in the previous 24 hours and they have every intention to bring him on board as soon as possible.
Ajax are a seller club so the right fee will be enough to trigger a sale and this will also mean that either Marseille or Atalanta will be able to get their hands on Nuno Tavares.
The Gunners originally intended to sell off Tavares so whichever side can ensure a permanent transfer at the end of the loan deal will be the favourites in this arrangement.