Quickest in his league: Three things Arsenal fans need to know about £16m-rated ace amid reported talks

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The quest for backup left-back has led Arsenal to Portugal, with Fabrizio Romano and A Bola both reporting that Nuno Tavares is in talks with Mikel Arteta’s side.

The Benfica youngster is likely to leave the Portuguese giants this summer. Indeed, Burnley and Newcastle United were interested in the defender not too long ago as reported by O Jogo.

Yet now it appears that Arsenal are at the front of the queue for Tavares. Moreover, Romano claims that the defender’s priority is to join the Gunners and to play in the Premier League.

With a deal likely to cost £16m, Arsenal could well be on their way to signing the youngster in the coming weeks.

But as for supporters, what should they know about the 21-year-old fullback who is regarded as one of the quickest in Liga NOS and who an iconic Portuguese manager tipped to be ‘the future’ of both Benfica and the national team?

A modern-day fullback

Whether it be from FIFA or Football Manager, Tavares is a name that some football fans have heard of over the years. The left-back is one of the top-rated prospects in Portugal, and it’s easy to see why.

As a scout report from Soccer Souls shows, Tavares is built to play football in 2021. At 6’1”, the youngster is physically imposing for a fullback. And the 21-year-old uses his physicality often to bomb forward and to hit crosses into the area.

With Kieran Tierney offering similar traits for Arsenal, it makes sense why the Gunners would target the Benfica defender as a potential backup for the Scottish international.

Tavares could be a speed demon for Arsenal

One thing that immediately stands out with Tavares is just how quick the youngster is.

Both O Jogo and Soccer Souls highlight just how rapid the Portuguese youth international is. With the former praising the youngster as one of the fastest players in Liga NOS.

With Arsenal already blessed with some fast players, such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe, extra speed down the flanks would be a welcome addition to the side, especially in the defence.

Big praise from a Portuguese coaching icon

Tavares was identified early on in his Benfica career as a player with high potential. And praise doesn’t get much bigger than from former manager Jorge Jesus.

The Portuguese manager is one of the highest-rated coaches in the country. And in 2020, Jesus placed lofty ambitions on Tavares during his breakout season with the club. The former Benfica boss said: “He is the future of Benfica and the National Team.”

Whilst Tavares’ development has stunted due to a lack of game time, there is no denying that this high praise from Jesus is a promising sign of where the defender is going in his career. Indeed, Arsenal could be about to sign a gem of a player if they play their cards right.