Arsenal hope to sell midfielder to Marseille before transfer window closes

January 26, 2024 06:46 GMT (UK), by Ketan Patel

Arsenal and Marseille are putting the finishing touches on a deal that would allow Portuguese full-back Nuno Tavares to return to the Ligue 1 outfit, but the versatile youngster, who currently is only loan, could be blocked by Nottingham Forest who have the player until next summer. The Gunners have apparently agreed a fee of 10 million euros for the former Benfica player.

It is the 23-year-old’s birthday today, and it is understood that the perfect gift for the Lisbon born player would be a return to France. A 2022-23 campaign in which he scored six goals in 31 games for Marseille is arguably the best season of his career, and he regularly caught the eye playing for the Ligue 1 outfit. That is very different to his spell at parent club Arsenal, where he was often criticised for mistakes both by the club’s support and manager Mikel Arteta.

Tavares has appeared for Portugal’s under 18’s, 19’s and under-21’s side, and at Forest so far this season he has only appeared four times. The left-back is desperate to join his country’s Euro 2024 squad and wants to force through a transfer to Marseille in pursuit of that goal.