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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Giuseppe Muro

Arsenal willing to sanction Nuno Tavares sale if Gunners win Lisandro Martinez transfer race

Arsenal will consider letting Nuno Tavares leave the club this summer if they can sign a left-sided defender.

Tavares is a loan target for Marseille as they prepare for a return to the Champions League next season after finishing second in Ligue 1.

Atalanta are also interested in a move for the 22-year-old, who was the understudy to first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney last season and had some shaky moments when he came into the team.

Arsenal are targeting a move for highly-rated Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez as they look to continue their summer spending after agreeing a £34million deal to sign midfielder Fabio Vieira from Porto.

Martinez, who is valued at around £30m, would provide competition for centre-back pair Ben White and Gabriel but can also play at left-back.

If Arsenal can secure Martinez, they could be willing to sanction the exit of Tavares.

Real Sociedad are also reported to be interested in a move for Tavares, who joined Arsenal from Benfica for around £8m last summer and made 28 appearances.

Nuno Tavares struggled during his debut season at Arsenal after joining from Benfica (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Atalanta have identified him as a target but their head of senior recruitment Lee Congerton has admitted a move could be difficult.

Congerton said: “I have followed Tavares since he was playing for Benfica’s youth team, he is a strong player. But Tavares is under contract with Arsenal - and it is really difficult to sign players from Premier League clubs.”

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