On July 23rd, we carried a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, who explained Arsenal’s Nuno Tavares is ‘getting closer and closer’ to Atalanta.
Later that day, Gazzetta dello Sport stated the Serie A side’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, sees the Gunners fullback as ‘one of most urgent reinforcements’.
These reports surfaced a day after Arsenal confirmed the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta currently has Tavares, Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney as the three left-backs in their squad. The Ukrainian’s addition is likely to push the 22-year-old out of the club.
Sportitalia’s Alfredo Pedullà claims the Arsenal defender is the ‘concrete goal’ for Atalanta in the summer window.
A market intermediary is in London to close the ex-Benfica man’s transfer to the Italian club. Atalanta, who are under pressure, hope to give the player to Gasperini ‘as soon as possible’.
Pedullà’s colleague at SportItalia, Gianluigi Longari, took to Twitter to explain Atalanta are trying to accelerate Tavares’ signing from Arsenal. He adds a meeting is expected to take place in the next few hours, likely to find a resolution for the operation.
These reports don’t specify the formula Atalanta are working on to sign Tavares. Earlier claims indicated Gasperini’s side are looking at a loan deal.
