Andrea Berta’s first transfer exit is already agreed as Arsenal star closes in on switch to European giants

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Andrea Berta is looking to conduct the bulk of Arsenal’s transfer business as early as possible this summer.

The Gunners have several areas that need addressing, with a striker, a winger, a central midfielder, a defender and a back-up goalkeeper all on Mikel Arteta’s wishlist.

However, Berta is also focusing on tying key players down to new contracts and sanctioning sales to raise funds for incoming players.

The likes of Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard could all depart N5, while a number of other squad players are potentially on the chopping block.

• READ MORE: Mikel Arteta should stop being stubborn and change one Arsenal player’s position, it’s now or never

Lazio expected to sign Arsenal star Nuno Tavares for £6m

Arsenal’s first piece of summer business has already been agreed and is set to materialise.

Nuno Tavares is expected to sign for Lazio permanently, with the Italian club set to trigger the buy option included in the Portuguese wing-back’s initial loan deal.

Tavares joined Lazio on a temporary deal last summer, and the marauding full-back has impressed in Rome.

Registering eight assists in 21 Serie A appearances, Tavares earned his first Portugal call-up in November, as a reward for his eye-catching displays in Italy.

According to the Standard, Lazio have been satisfied with the 25-year-old and want to acquire his services on a full-time basis.

They’ll pay the pre-agreed fee in the region of £5.9-£6.7 million to Arsenal, with the deal likely to go through in the coming weeks.

However, reports in Italy suggest that Lazio may instantly sell Tavares to make a quick profit on him.

This would bank Arsenal more cash, as the Gunners included a sell-on clause in the deal with the White and Sky Blues, believed to be worth up to 25%.

Nuno Tavares could’ve been useful for Arsenal in a different system

Tavares made 28 appearances for Arsenal in the 2021/22 season, scoring once.

While he was an odd fit stylistically for what Arteta wanted, he certainly possesses some attributes that would’ve been useful had the Spaniard deployed a different system.

Thriving as an advanced outlet who makes an impact in the final third, Tavares provides chaos and unpredictability.

This directly clashes with what Arteta wants; the manager favours a sterile possession-oriented approach, prioritising control over disruption.

The divisive head coach has deployed an inverted left-back in the last few years, with the likes of Zinchenko and Myles Lewis-Skelly essentially playing as auxiliary central midfielders in possession.

This certainly isn’t a role that Tavares can operate in, but he’s perfectly suited to a back three system.