Earlier this week, Turkish journalist Reşat Can Özbudak reported that Galatasaray had met with the agents of Nuno Tavares, preparing to discuss an offer for a permanent deal following this summer’s u21 European Championships.
Tavares has been called up by Portugal to play in the u21 Euros, and Özbudak suggested Galatasaray would make their move after that.
Yet Fabrizio Romano reports that there’s no negotiation or realistic chance for Tavares to join Galatasaray as things stand.
Galatasaray’s focus is instead on Alex Sandro, if the Juventus left-back is available this summer.
Sandro is reportedly in talks to terminate his contract with Juventus one year early, and Galatasaray are keeping a close eye on the situation.
If the deal termination goes through, Sandro would be available on a free transfer, which presumably makes his signing more attractive to Galatasaray than paying Arsenal a fee for Tavares.
Tavares’ situation at Arsenal is unclear at the moment, following his year-long loan to Marseille.
The 23-year-old made 39 appearances for the French side, scoring six goals, but it never seemed particularly likely he’d make that move permanent.
With Kieran Tierney possibly moving on to Newcastle United or Aston Villa, perhaps there’s an opening for Tavares to join Oleksandr Zinchenko in the left-back rotation at Arsenal.
But the Portugal u21 international has received mixed reviews during his loan spell, and we’ll have to wait and see whether Mikel Arteta wants to reintegrate him.
Even though it’s been just two years since Tavares’ move from Benfica to Arsenal, this feels like an important summer for his long-term future at the Emirates.
If Tierney leaves and Tavares doesn’t take his place, with Arsenal opting to make another signing instead, that would surely spell the end for his time in north London.
