Arsenal set for MASSIVE windfall as transfer confirmed

Tom Weber

Updated: 1 Mar 2025 16:44 GMT
3 min read

Arsenal are set for a major Nuno Tavares windfall as AC Milan look for a replacement for Theo Hernandez, according to Italian media.

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The Rossoneri are a club in turmoil. Several star players have underperformed this season and none more so than Hernandez. Once one of Europe's best left-backs, the France international has been a shadow of his former self in 2024/25.

His performances have given rise to doubts over whether he should be Milan's long-term left-back option. Hernandez is out of contract in 2026 and talks over an extension to protect his value have been ongoing, but they have proven difficult.

Even if he were to renew his deal, there would be no guarantee that he would remain at Milan beyond this season. The Rossoneri were willing to cash in on him in January and Cesc Fabregas' ambitious Como project lodged a €40 million bid, but the 27-year-old rejected the move.

With an extension seemingly still not close, Milan direct Geoffrey Moncada has now confirmed that Hernandez will be sold in the summer unless he agrees fresh terms. "The important thing is to control the players, we cannot lose a player on an expiring contract," he told DAZN.

Milan want Arsenal loanee Tavares

The Serie A giants have begun scouring the market for potential replacements and have taken a liking to Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares, who has been impressing during his season-long loan at Lazio.

According to Il Messaggero, the Portuguese features high on Milan's wishlist and a deal would be hugely beneficial to Arsenal. Lazio have an obligation to buy Tavares in the region of €7m-€8m and would ideally like to keep him long-term.

They have made it clear that they won't engage with any offers below €40m because they know that 40 per cent of that fee will be owed to his current parent club. The inflated €40m price is informed by the fact that Arsenal would pocket a whopping €18m from this deal.

Tavares has notched an impressive nine assists from his left-back position this season and the expectation is that interest in services will only increase between now and the summer.