Arsenal could now net surprise windfall to fund late deal, but there’s one problem

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Arsenal loaned defender Nuno Tavares to Nottingham Forest in the summer, but he has failed to impress so far.

The 23-year-old has made just six appearances for Forest this season, and just two of these came from the start in the Premier League.

It was recently reported that Forest were considering sending Tavares back to Arsenal, but circumstances have changed in a quite surprising way.

Tavares had a fairly productive loan spell at French side Olympique Marseille last season, but they decided not to keep him. However, it now appears that they want to bring him back.

Olympique Marseille want to sign Nuno Tavares from Arsenal

Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that Marseille are interested in signing the left-back, and Arsenal are keen to sell him on a permanent deal.

“Understand Olympique Marseille are still trying to sign Nuno Tavares as new LB,” he posted on X.

“Arsenal are 100% open to selling Nuno to OM now on permanent transfer, but deal depends on Nottingham Forest as they insist to keep Nuno until June and there’s no re-call clause.”

Nuno joined Forest on loan in the summer, with a £12m option to buy inserted into his loan contract, and Arsenal cannot bring him back. If Marseille are to sign him, they will need Forest to agree to terminate his loan deal.

What can Arsenal do with Nuno Tavares now?

Given their desire to keep him until the end of the season, with Tavares suddenly coming back into the lineup in their last Premier League game, they may take some convincing to change their minds.

This will come as a frustration for Arsenal. It seems unlikely that Forest will end up activating his option to buy in the summer, even if he stays until the end of the season.

With Arsenal unable to spend big in this window as a result of financial fair play issues, receiving a fee for Tavares now would have come as a nice surprise, and could have helped fund a move for a new defender in the last week of the transfer window.

However, their hands are now tied unless they can convince Forest to send Tavares back before agreeing on a deal with Marseille, and with just over a week remaining in the month, this seems unlikely to materialise.

Tavares made 28 appearances for Arsenal in one season, and it is clear that he has no future at the club, but the Gunners may now miss out on an opportunity to make a surprise profit on him.