Arsenal ‘agree’ first deal of summer transfer window

Arsenal are reportedly poised to agree the sale of buccaneering full-back Nuno Tavares to Lazio, yet that is not where the Gunners' interest in the defender ends.

Tavares arrived at Arsenal from Benfica in 2021 as a promising talent who had impressed in patches as Alejandro Grimaldo's understudy. Injury to Kieran Tierney forced Mikel Arteta to thrust the then-21-year-old straight into the white-hot spotlight of Premier League football.

A forceful presence with a penchant for galloping up and down the flank, Tavares didn't exclusively struggle, although he did have some moments to forget. Most notably, the Portuguese defender was hooked after just 34 minutes of Arsenal's FA Cup third-round exit to Nottingham Forest.

After a successful spell in the Italian capital, where he boasts a team-high eight assists, Lazio are expected to a trigger a buy-clause in the contract worth between €7-8m (£5.9-6.7m), according to the Evening Standard.

This arrangement will see Arsenal make a minor loss on the £6.8m investment they made four years ago. However, there is still the distinct potential for a profit to be made.

Lazio are reportedly buying Tavares with the express intention of offloading him this summer for a significant profit. The deal struck between Arsenal and the Italian club is said to contain a sell-on clause which would entitle the Gunners to around 25% of any fee Lazio can command.

The intricate machinations of Tavares' exit is not the only source of potential revenue for Arsenal this summer. In a bid to raise funds for the arrival of a much-needed centre-forward, the Gunners have been tipped to offload Leandro Trossard to the Saudi Pro League.

Jorginho is also expected to leave, although his departure would only free up room in the wage bill as he enters the final weeks of his contract.

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