Arsenal are aiming to clear out a number of players from the squad ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline, but in some cases they may be forced to accept loan offers rather than making permanent sales.
In the case of Nuno Tavares, the Gunners have so far been left frustrated in their attempts to sell the player. Nottingham Forest were close to agreeing a permanent deal, but negotiations collapsed, whilst Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a loan.
However, a report from The Daily Mail has now claimed that Nottingham Forest are set to reignite their interest in the 23-year-old, and are “now hopeful” of agreeing a loan deal with an option to buy.
Tavares made 39 appearances for Olympique Marseille in a loan spell last season, scoring six times, but is not in Mikel Arteta’s plans despite the departure of Kieran Tierney.
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Given the interest in Tavares from a number of clubs, Arsenal may have hoped to make a profit on the left-back with a permanent sale this summer, but it seems that they will have to settle with a loan move to Nottingham Forest.
It is unclear what the size of any option to buy will be, but the club will hope that it is a figure that Steve Cooper’s side eventually pay.
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It is abundantly clear by now that Tavares is not in Arteta’s plans going forward, with the defender making a number of errors in his only season at the club, and now will not fit into the system which employs inverted full-backs.
A sale this summer could have helped balance the books after some heavy spending, and it remains to be seen how much of an impact the signings of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber will have on the finances this season.
Tavares initially started well at Arsenal, with Garth Crooks describing him as “brilliant” following an excellent display against Newcastle in 2021, but his lack of positional discipline and defensive awareness means that despite his excellent physical attributes of speed and power, he is a player who will not fit into this side.