An Arsenal player Mikel Arteta reportedly wants rid of this summer has been labelled good enough to play for Man City, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
The summer signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko has quickly proved something of a masterstroke for Arsenal. The Ukraine international wasted no time supplanting Kieran Tierney at left-back and Zinchenko’s arrival allowed Arsenal to sanction a loan move for Nuno Tavares too.
The Portuguese moved to north London in the summer of 2021 to the tune of £8m. His attacking tendencies caught the eye in season one, though his defensive frailties were a concern.
As such, Tavares was loaned out to Marseille for the current campaign where by all accounts, he’s been a revelation.
Operating in a more advanced left wing-back role, Tavares has scored six times in Ligue 1 this term. His exploits – at both ends of the pitch – have helped Marseille to take control of second place in the French top flight.
But in a TEAMtalk exclusive with Ben Jacobs, we learned Tavares will likely never play another match for Arsenal again.
That was subsequently backed up by reports out of France that claimed Tavares’ superb form this season won’t be enough to earn him another crack at English football with Arsenal.
“Arsenal would like to sell him,” RMC Sport journalist Florent Germain said one week ago (via Football Club de Marseille).
“The Gunners bosses don’t want to loan him for a second year in a row. He has two years left on his contract. He’s loaned without an option to buy so he will normally return to London. Marseille haven’t definitely made a decision.
“They haven’t clearly said they want him to go, but that’s the way it’s heading.”
As Germain stated, Tavares’ loan deal does not contain an option to buy. As such, he’ll return to the capital this summer, but may quickly find himself turfed out for good.
And according to Marseille boss Igor Tudor, that course of action would be a grave mistake from the Gunners.
Should Arsenal show patience with Tavares?
Indeed, in quotes carried by the Metro, Tudor waxed lyrical about the player’s physical attributes and explosiveness, and even claimed Tavares is capable of playing for Real, Barca or Man City.
“He is a boy who is still young,’ said Tudor. “He has high level physical qualities, he has extraordinary explosiveness.
“He could play at Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester City.
“There are other things he needs to improve. He must progress, we often talk. There’s always room for improvement, we’re here to help. We make him see concrete things to improve.
“He has always been important to us even if he has not had continuity. He is still participating, he is an important player for us. As I always say, we hope he will help us in the last ten games.
“He is a player who, when he is in good shape, can change things. He can make a difference.”
If Arsenal are dead set on the idea of selling Tavares, Tudor’s comments may at least help to swell the player’s valuation.
Given his form for Marseille and the fact he’s still only 23, Arsenal should be able to generate a handy profit on the modest £8m they paid Benfica.