Fabrizio Romano reveals the one condition for Arsenal transfer this month

Suraj Radia

• 23 Jan 2024 14:14 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Arsenal are ‘100% open’ to the sale of Nuno Tavares to Marseille, however the transfer would be complicated by the left-back’s current loan at Nottingham Forest.

Tavares joined the Gunners in 2021 from Benfica for £8 million and made 22 Premier League appearances in his debut season, scoring once, but spent last season on loan at Marseille.

The 23-year-old proved to be an exciting attacking talent for the Ligue 1 side, scoring six times in the league, but Marseille were prevented from implementing an option to make the deal permanent, leading to Tavares’ return to the Emirates in the summer.

Despite his form, Tavares was not seen as a part of Mikel Arteta’s plans this season and went on loan to Nottingham Forest, however he has made just two Premier League starts this season.

Marseille have been hoping to bring Tavares back to the Stade Velodrome this month and, while Romano has revealed Arsenal’s willingness to facilitate a move, any sale depends on Forest, with the Gunners not having an option to recall the Portuguese youngster.

There is believed to be a permanent option worth £12m which means Arsenal are unable to terminate the loan before the end of the season but, with the defender seemingly being a fringe part of Forest’s plans, the Premier League strugglers may be willing to send Tavares back to Arsenal upon his request.

Tavares back in Forest contention after four month absence

Although Tavares has played just 184 minutes of Premier League football this season, he played the entirety of Forest’s 3-2 loss to Brentford last weekend, having featured for the first time since September in the club’s two FA Cup games earlier this month.

Tavares may be open to staying at Forest for the remainder of the season due to the arrival of Nuno as the club’s manager, with the Portuguese boss being appointed as a replacement for Steve Cooper last month.

Having joined on transfer deadline day in the summer, Tavares came of the bench in his first two appearances but was substituted 39 minutes into his maiden start for Forest against Manchester City in September and failed to make any appearances for the subsequent four months.

Tavares has 18 months remaining on his contract at Arsenal and he appears to have no future under Arteta, with the club looking to sell him in order to raise funds and make a profit.