Report: Club now pressing hard to sign ‘elite’ Arsenal player and have sent a rep to London to wrap deal up

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Atalanta are now pressing hard to sign defender Nuno Tavares from Arsenal and have sent a representative to London.

A report by Alfredo Pedulla claims that a market intermediary has been sent over from the Italian club to get the deal tied up.

They want to get the left-back landed for their manager Gian Piero Gasperini as soon as they possibly can ahead of the new season.

Tavares only joined Arsenal last summer, but had a mixed first campaign for Mikel Arteta’s side as his backup left-back.

Atalanta pressing hard to sign Tavares

Now that Oleksandr Zinchenko has been signed, and can offer competition and cover for Kieran Tierney at left-back, Tavares looks freer to leave.

Zinchenko will want to play more often in midfield, which is where he plays for his country, but his arrival can allow Tavares to go.

Playing regularly at a club where there is not quite so much expectation and pressure on him should help the defender develop.

Tavares was hooked at Nottingham Forest as Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup and you can see he’s a raw talent who needs time to improve.

Tavares has been praised by Joao Tralhao, his coach when he was in Benfica’s youth team, after that flashpoint, who said: “If he liked to be subbed, he cannot be a top elite player like he is at Arsenal.

“Nuno is with a big club in England, in the best league in the world. Of course, it is not an easy adaptation for any player, for any young player like Nuno is. But he’s doing well.”