Arsenal outcast Nuno Tavares seals loan transfer move to Premier League rival with £12m buy option included

NUNO TAVARES is heading to Nottingham Forest on loan but other than that it’s likely to be a quiet deadline day for Arsenal.

The 23-year-old left-back spent last season on loan at Marseille and has only managed 13 Premier League starts since a £7million move from Benfica in 2021.

Forest are paying a £1m loan fee for the Portuguese Under-21 international and have an option to sign him on a permanent basis next summer for £12m.

The Gunners have already spent £205m this summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber and a further £3m to sign David Raya on loan.

They are still trying to offload Rob Holding, Sambi Lokonga, Nicolas Pepe and Cedric Soares before tonight’s deadline but are not looking to make any more signings.

Tavares has not featured for the Gunners this season despite their left-back woes.

But he has now been given the chance to prove his quality in the Premier League after heading to The City Ground.

Upon joining Steve Cooper's side, Tavares said: "I'm really happy to be here. 

"Forest is a historic club which won two European Cups and to be part of it makes me really happy.

"I'm really happy to stay in the Premier League as it's the best league in the world and I'm thankful to Forest for giving me that opportunity."

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Tavares will wear the number three shirt during his loan spell.

In total he has played 28 times for Arsenal, scoring his first goal for them in a 3-1 win over Manchester United in 2022 - who are facing the north Londoners on Sunday.