West Ham United are keen to snap up Nuno Tavares as the Arsenal defender could move in the opposite direction to Declan Rice.
Arsenal full back Nuno Tavares wants to stay in the Premier League with West Ham United now targeting a cut-price deal.
That is according to a report from iNews, who claim that West Ham are showing a real interest in signing Tavares this summer.
West Ham are currently negotiating to sell midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal for a fee worth around £105million.
Not all of that will be paid in one go of course, but West Ham may be able to splash some cash in the transfer market.
Tavares is one target for David Moyes and he could now head in the opposite direction to Rice.
West Ham are understood to have shown the most interest despite Turkish side Galatasaray also being keen.
Crucially, it’s stated that Tavares does want to stay in the Premier League and that gives West Ham real hope of securing an £8million deal.
Nuno Tavares needs to leave Arsenal
In truth, Tavares was a slightly surprising signing for Arsenal in the first place.
Tavares hadn’t really impressed for Benfica before Arsenal pounced with a £7million deal in the summer of 2021.
Signed as competition for Kieran Tierney, Tavares did actually start well at Arsenal before losing his confidence in 2022, with Gary Neville branding him ‘erratic’ on Sky Sports Premier League (7:45pm, May 16, 2022).
Arsenal then snapped up Oleksandr Zinchenko and it quickly became clear that Tavares wouldn’t have a role to play.
Mikel Arteta wanted something different at left back, inverting Zinchenko to aid build-up play as Tavares was sent on loan to Marseille.
Tavares had an up-and-down time in France, bagging six goals in 31 league games but also receiving criticism for his attitude.
Marseille have chosen to move on and that leaves Tavares staring at a minimal role at Arsenal unless he moves on.
Tavares would have to compete with Emerson Palmieri at West Ham but it’s clear that he still thinks he can make an impact in the Premier League – possibly with West Ham.
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