Marseille to reignite interest in Arsenal defender on loan at Nottingham Forest

Ligue 1 side Marseille are keen on bringing Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares back to the Stade Velodrome on loan this season.

This is as per reports from Football London, which have added that the Gunners will first need to sort out Tavares’ current loan spell with Nottingham Forest.

🚨 Marseille are interested in re-signing Nuno Tavares, Football London understands. There is no recall clause in Tavares’ loan agreement with Nottingham Forest, so the clubs would need to come to an agreement over his termination. [@TomCantonMedia] #afc https://t.co/Y4IF8lHUV0

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) January 22, 2024

Nuno Tavares arrived at Arsenal from SL Benfica in a deal worth £8 million in 2021. However, he has been a squad player at best, making just 28 appearances for the club since. He enjoyed a successful loan spell with Marseille last season, playing 39 games and scoring six goals in the process.

Now, the French giants want Tavares back with them until the end of the ongoing season. However, there is a stumbling block for Arsenal as well as Marseille.

The Portuguese defender’s ongoing loan deal with Nottingham Forest is one without a call-back option. This means the Gunners and Forest will have to negotiate the terms for terminating Tavares’ deal so he can return to his parent club. Once he does that, only then can him and his camp begin negotiating with a third club.

Tavares had arguably a breakout season under former coach Marcelino last season. He was deployed in a favored left wing-back position – something he excels at given his determination to attack and defend. However, defending seems to be slightly on the weaker side, with a string of errors leading to him being temporarily dropped from Arsenal’s XI in 2022.

Considering he has played just 314 minutes for Nottingham Forest across six appearances this season, it seems a new destination could benefit him. Arsenal have also significantly modified their playing style since Nuno Tavares was last at the club. This leaves little to no room for him to be a part of the Gunners’ first-team or Mikel Arteta’s plans again.

Whether Marseille will come in with a loan offer or a permanent deal remains to be seen, with a move likelier in the summer.

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