Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares is on the verge of completing a move to Marseille this summer, on loan for the upcoming 22/23 season.
The Gunners have a strong relationship with the Ligue 1 outfit, having seen William Saliba spend last season on loan with the southern France side, winning the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season as a result of his performances under Jorge Sampaoli.
Though the eccentric manager is no longer at the helm, this relationship is set to continue, with the Express reporting that talks are progressing quickly between the two parties over a straight loan move for the defender.
Tavares was in talks to move to Atalanta, but a deal collapsed as a result of Arsenal’s unwillingness to include an option to buy in the deal, something that Atalanta were dead-set on having.
As a result, Marseilles have moved into pole position to complete a move for the 22-year-old, who would otherwise see his minutes slashed in north London following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney’s return to full fitness.
However, Arsenal’s unwillingness to include any potential sale in the future perhaps hints that his Emirates story is not yet over.
Third choice goalkeeper set to depart
Meanwhile, another Arsenal first-teamer is set to depart on loan in the form of Arthur Okonkwo, who was third-choice shot-stopper last season.
However, the club are set to rotate that this campaign, with Karl Hein returning from loan to take that spot, and allow Okonkwo valuable playing experience further down the football pyramid.
The highly-rated young goalkeeper is on the verge of completing a season-long loan to League Two Crewe Alexandra.
Meanwhile, no.2 goalkeeper Bernd Leno is also on the verge of departing, with Arsenal having agreed an £8m deal which will see the German make the trip across London this summer.
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