Nuno Tavares has agreed a five-year contract at Arsenal after the Gunners fought off competition from Premier League rivals Southampton for the Benfica left-back, as reported by Portuguese publication JN.
If Southampton want a new left-back – and they most certainly do – then their search has just become that little bit harder.
Junior Firpo has been convinced by none other than Marcelo Bielsa himself to swap the Barcelona bench for the rolling hills of West Yorkshire, according to Sport.
Meanwhile, a Portugal U21 international also appears to have slipped through Ralph Hasenhuttl’s grasp.
It was reported just last week that Southampton were in talks to bring Tavares to St Mary’s.
But as the Saints dithered, Arsenal seized the opportunity to jump into pole position.
Tavares set for Arsenal rather than Southampton
According to JN, the Gunners have overtaken Southampton and Napoli as the most likely destination for Tavares, with the highly rated left-back agreeing a five-year deal at the Emirates.
It remains to be seen how much Tavares will earn at Arsenal – or how much the Gunners plan to pay.
Benfica are expected to demand somewhere in the region of £15 million for a defender who featured 14 times in the Primeira Liga last season, playing mostly at left-back.
Tavares is also capable of filling in on the right, suggesting he’d offer cover on both flanks for an Arsenal side that looks set to lose a utility man of their own.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has made no secret of his desire to play week in, week out in the Premier League with Crystal Palace the most likely destination for the former West Bromwich Albion loanee as things stand.
According to 90Min, Arteta has been handed a staggering £250 million transfer war chest.
The arrival of Tavares for about £14 million would leave plenty of funds free for a new box-to-box midfielder, a prolific centre-forward and possibly even a new goalkeeper, with Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale in their sights.
Southampton, meanwhile, may now step up their pursuit of Brest flyer Romain Perraud.
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