Manchester City have emerged as candidates for the signing of Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares ahead of the January transfer window, according ESPN.
The report claims that the Premier League champions are in the market for a left-back, despite having enjoyed success homing Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko into new postcodes.
ESPN claim that the Pep Guardiola is of the opinion that his side houses just one natural left-back at his disposal and that Mikel Arteta's summer signing from Benfica has perked his interest.
However, while losing Tavares from the Emirates may come across as a major loss for the Gunners boss, a potential deal could solve Arteta's biggest problem that he, and the club, must not get wrong.
Arsenal have seemingly suffered a fifteen-year captain curse at London Colney supplemented by the latest disciplinary action taken against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners talisman was stripped of his captaincy and became the second successive player to do so, raising questions about the club's culture.
Aubameyang's title stripping opened the flood gates as to who should pick up the reins, lead Arsenal into a new era and break the club's 'captain curse'.
A strong candidate for the captaincy among Gooners is Kieran Tierney, who has struggled for game time this season following the fruitful returns reaped by Tavares.
The Scotland international, somewhat a natural heir to the throne, has made just two starts in the Premier League since returning from an ankle injury but, by Edu cashing in on City's interest, Arteta's captaincy decision is made all the easier.
Not only does Tierney have the credentials to be named by Arsenal as the new club captain he also happens to be one of the league's most impressive left-backs.
The Scotsman's contract doesn't expire until 2026 and he's currently valued at £28.8 million; a figure which continues to enjoy an upward trajectory, according to Transfermakrt.
While Tavares, who joined Arsenal for just £6 million in the summer, may be enjoying a healthy vein of form, Arsenal fans mustn't overlook or understate Tierney, a player all Gooners worshipped not so long ago.
Players like Tierney don't come around often and he must be appreciated and woven into the fabric of Arsenal; I'm sure there's a London Colney graduate or shrewd Edu signing that would compensate for Tavares' exit, should it happen.
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