Nottingham Forest close to agreeing deal with Arsenal to sign Nuno Tavares on loan

Nottingham Forest are now close to agreeing a deal with Arsenal to sign Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares on loan, reports Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

Talks between clubs were reignited in the past 24 hours after the deal fell through some days ago, and it appears it will go through this time around.

It is yet to be known whether the deal will be a straight loan or if there will be an option or obligation to make the move permanent.

The 23-year-old is not in the plans of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and has not been included in any of the matchday squads this season.

Tavares spent last season on loan with Marseille, bagging six goals in 39 appearances, and he attracted West Ham United earlier in the summer transfer window, while Aston Villa were recently linked.

The left-back had a feud with manager Igor Tudor during his loan spell in Ligue 1 last term, which jeopardised his chances of completing a permanent move.

His reaction to getting substituted after 34 minutes against Forest in January 2022 appears to have played a role in his falling out of favour completely with Arteta, and the fact that Arsenal are open to another temporary exit means nobody wants him around London Colney.

Tavares is not the only player that could leave the North London club this week, with Folarin Balogun currently undergoing a medical with AS Monaco after the Ligue 1 club reached an agreement with Arsenal to buy him in a €45 million deal.

Emile Smith Rowe could also leave before the transfer deadline on Friday, with the Gunners open to doing a deal with Chelsea if the price is right.

It remains to be seen if there will be further arrivals before the window ends as Arteta would love to further bolster his options at the back.