Forgotten Arsenal outcast Nuno Tavares has confirmed he has received ‘approaches’ over a transfer this summer but has one ‘priority’ after a loan to Nottingham Forest.
The 24-year-old spent the 2023/24 campaign at the City Ground but struggled to lock down a pivotal role. Injuries and a change at the Reds’ helm meant Tavares only appeared in eight Premier League fixtures all term. He also only started five of those matches for 458 minutes.
Tavares looked set to show Arsenal his potential at the turn of the year after working a way into Nottingham Forest’s XI after they hired Nuno Espirito Santo. But following four starts in five games, only sitting out against the Gunners, he suffered another long-term injury gripe.
Nuno Tavares’ ‘priority’ is Arsenal despite receiving transfer approaches
Arsenal sent Tavares on loan to Nottingham Forest hoping that it would lead to a permanent transfer. The Reds paid a £1m loan fee for the deal which boasted an option to buy for £12m rising to £15m with add-ons. The option even became mandatory if Tavares met key clauses.
His move to the City Ground also followed a season on loan to Marseille in 2022/23. Tavares last featured for Arsenal in May 2022 when the left-back finished his first season at Emirates Stadium with 28 appearances. Now, he aims to return to N5 for the final year of his contract.
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Tavares states that Arsenal are his ‘priority’ for the 2024/25 season despite also revealing he has received approaches to discuss a transfer. The former Portugal U21 international is keen to have one final chance to impress Mikel Arteta ahead of his contract expiring in June 2025.
“My priority is to return to Arsenal,” Tavares explained to Portuguese network Sport TV, via quotes by Noticias ao Minuto. “Then, there, only the future will tell. Everyone knows that I have another year on my contract with Arsenal.
“I have people I trust taking care of my future. There have been some approaches but I always leave it to whoever is in charge of taking care of my future.”
Arsenal have already told Nuno Tavares’ agents to find him a transfer
Arsenal may disappoint Tavares and deny the defender the return to north London he craves this summer, though. While the Gunners are the Portuguese’s ‘priority’, The Athletic claimed in May that Arsenal told Tavares’ agents they are free to find a buyer for a summer transfer.
Tavares may want to see what may happen over the final year of his contract but Arsenal are keen to avoid him leaving for free. Arteta and sporting director Edu do not see a future in N5 for the left-back who once showed attacking potential but soon became a defensive liability.
Jamie Carragher even suggested in August 2022 that Tavares had cost Arsenal a chance to qualify for the Champions League. He told Sky Sports, via quotes by the Daily Mail: “I don’t like singling one player out but I just think he cost you in certain games.
“I remember that game at Crystal Palace last season. It was on Monday Night Football and I said on TV, ‘He has to come off at half-time’. I think [Arteta] put Granit Xhaka at left-back.”