€10m defender set for Arsenal medical ‘in the coming hours’

Premier League side Arsenal are on the verge of completing a move for Benfica defender Nuno Tavares, according to reports in Portugal.

Mikel Arteta wants a left-back to serve as back-up to Kieran Tierney and it seems he is closing in on Tavares with Sky Sports recently reporting the Gunners’ interest in the Benfica youngster.

The Portugal Under-21 international started just seven games for Benfica last season but Tierney’s injury record could see him feature more under Arteta.

There’s a lot of f***ing swearing about England

Previous reports in Portugal claimed that Tavares has agreed a five-year deal at the Emirates and the clubs are discussing the final details around a fee of around £12.8million.

And now Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness) has brought us an update that Benfica have now accepted an offer from Arsenal with the left-back closing in on a move to north London.

A transfer could even be sealed as soon as today, according to A Bola, with the deal worth €8m up front and another €2m in add-ons.

With Taveres agreeing a bumper contract, worth three times as much as his current deal at Benfica, he is set to head for his Arsenal medical ‘in the coming hours’.

Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe has been linked with a move to Aston Villa but former striker Gabby Agbonlahor has told Football Insider that the reported £100m valuation of Jack Grealish will ensure Arsenal up their asking price for Smith Rowe.

He said: “I think the problem is Villa were clever and they got Emi Buendia in early before this Grealish talk came along. But now clubs are not silly, they’re smart to it. Even Arsenal, Smith Rowe is one of their brightest young players.

“The money Villa are offering, they’re never going to get him. Arsenal know they might get £100million for Grealish and will ask for something stupid for Smith Rowe. They probably want £50million, £60million, and that would be accepted if Villa offered it.

“They’re going to put money on top because they know Villa are going to get a bigger fee for Grealish. I don’t think that will go any further, I don’t think Smith Rowe is worth the money that Arsenal want.

“It’s just a shame now for Villa because whatever they deal want to get done, they’re going to have to pay over the top.”