Arsenal in talks to signal Benfica’s Nuno Tavares as backup possibility

Arsenal are in talks to signal Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares, sources have instructed ESPN.

The 21-year-old is seen as a back-up possibility for Kieran Tierney, who agreed a brand new five-year contract with the membership final week.

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Benfica worth Tavares at round €12 million however Arsenal are assured of doing a deal for much less with the participant eager on a transfer to the Premier League.

Negotiations are persevering with for Tavares, who made 24 appearances for Benfica final season together with a five-minute substitute outing in opposition to Arsenal within the second leg of their Europa League round-of-32 tie in February.

Tavares is seen as an attack-minded full-back who could make a optimistic influence within the closing third in an analogous mould to 2 different left-backs that the membership checked out signing in January: Ryan Bertrand and Patrick van Aanholt.

Each Bertrand and Van Aanholt will grow to be free brokers subsequent week when their contracts expire at Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively.

Bertrand is closing in on a transfer to Leicester Metropolis whereas Van Aanholt has been linked with Galatasaray. Each gamers are looking for an opportunity to compete for normal first-team soccer however Tavares is youthful and prepared to attend for his alternative.

Arsenal must strengthen cowl within the left-back place with Sead Kolasinac deemed surplus to necessities having returned from a mortgage at Schalke and midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has beforehand deputised as a left wing-back, additionally more likely to depart the membership.

In the meantime, Arsenal have rejected a second supply from Aston Villa for Emile Smith Rowe. The bid was believed to £30m — a £5m enhance on their first try — and dismissed out of hand by Arsenal, who stay in talks to increase the 20-year-old’s contract.