Atalanta BC have reportedly emerged as the frontrunners to secure a loan deal for Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares.
On Friday night, the Gunners confirmed that they had signed versatile Manchester City player Oleksandr Zinchenko in a deal said to be worth in the region of £32m.
Although it has been widely claimed that the Ukraine international would prefer to play in midfield, he spent much of his City career deputising at left-back and left wing-back.
With Kieran Tierney also in his squad, Mikel Arteta now has two strong options on that side of his defence, theoretically leaving Arsenal in a position where they can send Tavares out on loan.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Atalanta appear to be the most likely destination for the player.
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Romano claims that talks remaining ongoing between the relevant parties and that Atalanta are pushing to get a deal over the line.
While Brighton & Hove Albion have also been linked with the 22-year-old in recent days, the Seagulls are seemingly only regarded as outsiders to bring in an alternative to Marc Cucurella.
Despite the Spaniard being on a long-term contract at the Amex Stadium, a transfer to Man City could materialise providing that the Premier League champions can agree a deal with the Seagulls.
Tavares was provided with sufficient game time during his first year in North London, making a total of 13 starts and nine substitute appearances in the Premier League.
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However, the former Benfica man did not always impress Arteta, who notably substituted Tavares during the first half of the FA Cup tie with Nottingham Forest in January.
During the closing weeks of the season, Tavares played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal defeated Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham United in quick succession.
Nevertheless, it was not enough to convince Arteta that he should remain in his first-team plans, leaving it a near-certainty that he will spend 2022-23 at another club.
Joakim Maehle and Davide Zappacosta, who is more suited to the right flank, largely occupied the left wing-back role for Atalanta last season.
Darren Plant
