Report: Arsenal are keen for 'brilliant' player to leave on loan this summer and his exit is now close

By Sam Preston

Nuno Tavares is close to leaving Arsenal on loan to join Ligue 1 outfit Marseille for the forthcoming season.

The defender looked all set for Atalanta, but the Serie A club have pulled away from the deal because of the lack of option to buy him at the end of it.

Now, the Express are reporting that Tavares is bound for France, with negotiations having accelerated in recent days.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria travelled to London recently, which seems to have got the loan deal moving, and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival also helped.

Tavares close to Marseille loan

Marseille’s Ligue 1 rivals Lille also made their interest in loaning Tavares plain, but look to have lost out in the race as it stands.

The deal will be a straight loan for the season, with no option to buy, which indicates Arsenal still feel Tavares can be a real long-term asset to the club.

Arsenal and Marseille have done recent loan business, with Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba moving to France on loan.

Guendouzi has of course since made his loan swoop permanent, while Saliba is back at Arsenal, although the Express report that Longoria also spoke to the Gunners about the defender lately.

The report says that Arsenal are keen for the defender to leave on loan, and the move should get him some regular gametime.

On top of that, he could get some exposure to Champions League football. Marseille are at Europe’s top table, while Arsenal are in the Europa League.

Tavares was described as ‘brilliant‘ by pundit Micah Richards in November, but did not show that quality consistently enough in his maiden Gunners season.

This move could work for all parties and it is to be hoped that it does not falter at the last like the Atalanta switch did.