Arsenal are looking for new signings this summer but are also attempting to offload some fringe players from Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The Gunners are looking succeed at the third time of asking in their push for the Premier League title.
Manchester City have seen Arsenal off in the last two seasons, but Mikel Arteta is looking to go one better next season.
That means new signings are needed and Arsenal to appear to be moving towards an addition.
HITC understands that Arsenal are pressing ahead with talks to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.
The 22-year-old impressed at Euro 2024 and Arsenal are now ready to bring him over to North London.
Calafiori’s ability to play as a left back and a centre back will be very valuable, and his arrival could lead to some departures.
Lazio close in on Nuno Tavares
HITC understands that Arsenal are willing to let four left-footed defenders leave the club this summer.
Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Nuno Tavares are all available as Arsenal take a ‘quality over quantity’ approach.
The first player seemingly on his out of the club out of that list is Tavares.
Snapped up for £8million from Benfica in 2021, Tavares initially made a strong impression in his first few games.
Everything turned in January 2022 though as Tavares struggled against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
Tavares now hasn’t even played a game for Arsenal for two years now after loan spells with Marseille and Nottingham Forest.
The 24-year-old returns to Arsenal this summer but there appears to be no route back to first-team action at the Emirates Stadium.
Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani has now told Noi Biancocelesti that he is ‘more than confident’ that he will sign Tavares.
Fabiani noted that talks with Arsenal are ongoing in an attempt to reach an agreement, believing that there are ‘great possibilities’ for him to become a Lazio player.
“It’s an element that interests Lazio a lot, there are correspondences between the two clubs on the agreement to be found,” said Fabiani. “It’s not enough though, there’s a need to find an agreement with agents and the player. I’m more than confident, I’m not saying he’s a Lazio player but there are great possibilities,” he added.
This will likely be a third season out on loan for Tavares with Arsenal happy for him to move out again.
Tavares become a forgotten man under Arteta and it looks like he has played his final game for Arsenal as he now prepares to try his luck in Italian football.
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