Arsenal star Nuno Tavares arrives in Marseille ahead of medical and season-long loan transfer

ARSENAL left-back Nuno Tavares has arrived in Marseille for a medical ahead of a season-long loan deal.

The Portugal Under-21 was linked with Brighton and Atalanta.

1

But he’s close to following Sead Kolasinac, William Saliba and Matteo Guendouzi in switching from the Gunners to French giants Marseille.

Tavares, 22, faced a year of going backwards at the Emirates had he not moved.

Boss Mikel Arteta has just added £32million Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko to current left-back Kieran Tierney.

And Bukayo Saka, plus Ainsley Maitland-Niles, can also play there.

Arsenal news

Tielemans deal AGREED, 3rd kit RELEASED, Logan Paul and KSl sponsorship deal

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano believes Tavares just needs to complete the medical and sign paperwork to seal his Marseille move – possibly by this weekend.

The French giants made the ex-Benfica starlet their transfer priority in defence last month.

And their capture of Tavares might be a blow to Brighton.

The Seagulls reportedly monitored him in case their £30m-rated Spaniard Marc Cucurella joins Manchester City as Zinchenko’s replacement.

Albion’s technical director David Weir recently stated: “It’s an important part of recruitment that players know they can leave the club to go on to bigger teams than Brighton.

“I think what we do is most important and if at some stage it is right for the club and the individual wants to leave, then I think that will have to be a part of the process as well.”

 But rumoured Saints’ target Tavares is said to have reached “full agreement” with Marseille.