Atalanta director Lee Congerton has warned Edu that Arsenal may be unable to fund Mikel Arteta's 'top priority' transfer for Lisandro Martinez this summer. The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, but the sale of Nuno Tavares could prove pivotal in ultimately signing the Ajax defender.
The former Leicester City transfer chief admitted that it's "really difficult" to attract Premier League players abroad amid the Italian side's mission to sign Tavares. Congerton, head of senior recruitment at Atalanta, revealed the club's long-standing interest in the 22-year-old left-back, who faces an increasingly uncertain future at Arsenal.
According to the Express, Edu is demanding £35million for Tavares' services. The former Benfica defender struggled at times during a turbulent debut season in the Premier League, making just 13 starts.
