INCOMING: Arsenal Have Agreed Five-Year Deal With Nuno Taveres

Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Benfica’s Nuno Tavares.

The report states that both clubs also have an agreement in principle with the move set to be announced soon.

Mikel Arteta has been looking for a backup left-back and seems to have picked out the 21-year-old Portuguese Tavares. According to The Athletic, Arsenal could land him for under €10m (£8.5m).

Tavares has only recently broken into Benfica’s senior side, deputising behind Alex Grimaldo. He made 25 appearances last term, starting just 16 of those games. He is in the ideal age bracket of players Arsenal are looking to recruit.

After their disastrous mistake of signing Willian last summer, it seems like the club will take a different approach this summer. Almost all players linked to the side are either 24 or below, mostly developed in the domestic setting.

Tavares is still a wildcard but the pressure of performing will be significantly less due to the role he would come in for. Kieran Tierney just signed a contract extension and is still expected to start majority of the games next term, unless he takes on more injury issues.

Tavares’ athletic profile easily fits into what is required in the English game. But it will be upto him to develop quickly.