Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares has revealed that he requested for a clause in his loan deal to join Olympique Marseille that would give the French giants the option to sign the fullback.
Speaking to RMC Sport Radio, the Portuguese youth international admitted that he and his agents wanted Marseille to have an option to sign the left-back at the end of the 22-year-old’s loan spell in Ligue 1, though Arsenal’s technical director Edu Gaspar said not to the idea.
Whilst the loan deal still went ahead, the decision to not include an option to sign could come to hurt Marseille with Tavares thriving in France, with the defender scoring an incredible three goals in just six league appearances for Igor Tudor’s side, more than what the fullback managed last season with Arsenal.
Playing as a left-wingback, Tavares has thrived in France in his new role and in Marseille’s 3-4-3 formation, with Arsenal fans, in particular, astounded by how well the former Benfica star has done with his new loan club given his rollercoaster first year in the Premier League.
Signed last summer for a reported £7m, Tavares’ performances fluctuated from incredible to disastrous, and the defender’s loan move to Marseille was made with the intention of improving the youngster’s overall game as well as moulding some of the rawness the fullback still possesses.
Yet had things gone Tavares’ way, the defender could soon be signing for Marseille, with the 22-year-old saying: “When talking with my agents, we wanted an option to buy, but Arsenal didn’t want that to be an option. Regardless, I am a Marseille player, and with or without an option to stay here, I am happy.”
Marseille could push to sign Tavares in the summer if form continues
Tavares’ early season form for Marseille has come as a surprise to many given how the defender ended the campaign for Arsenal last term, yet the potential for a player to explode out of the Portuguese youngster has always been there, and the French club could push to sign the Arsenal star if these sort of performances continue.
Indeed, with Tavares himself already pushing for a buy option in his contract, there seems to be interest on the player’s side for a permanent deal to happen in the future, and should the fullback continue to dominate Ligue 1, Marseille could break the bank next summer to sign the 22-year-old from Arsenal.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
