Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares.
With the Gunners expected to be busy in the summer transfer window, the 21-year-old is likely to be the first of many new arrivals in north London between now and deadline day.
football.london understands Arsenal have seen off competition from Southampton, Brighton and Napoli to sign the Portuguese defender and bolster their options at left-back.
At a fee of just €8million (£6.8m) plus add-ons, this deal will not take up a significant chunk of Mikel Arteta's transfer budget as he plans to complete a "ruthless" squad overhaul this summer.
Tavares will be familiar to Arsenal fans having come up against them in the Europa League last season.
Having been an unused substitute in the round of 32 first-leg meeting that finished 1-1, the 21-year-old played the final five minutes of the return leg.
Interestingly, when Tavares replaced Alex Grimaldo the scores were level at 2-2 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate with Benfica on the verge of progressing thanks to the away goals rule.
However, to the relief of Arteta and Gunners supporters everywhere, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang popped up with an 87th minute winner to break Benfica hearts.
Although, with Tavares' transfer imminent, his role in Aubameyang's goal has come under scrutiny.
As spotted by some eagle-eyed Arsenal fans, it was Tavares who gave Bukayo Saka too much room to pick out the Gunners captain at the back post for a simple header.
@TheGoonerTalkTv said: "Nuno Tavares failing to stop the Saka cross which Aubameyang scored to knock out Benfica. Offensively there's real potential in the kid. Defensively though, he has a lot to work on.
"Hopefully he can improve dramatically in that area.
@TTrain1ngday said: "Saka had him on toast."
