'Not in the plans' - Arsenal outcast set for Serie A 2024/25 adventure

Arsenal are currently enjoying sitting at the top of the Premier League on goal difference ahead of their upcoming clash against Manchester City this weekend. Their recent form is a result of years of squad development and investment but not every Gunners purchase has gone to plan with one fading star headed for airport when the summer transfer window comes around.

Nuno Tavares has spent the last year on loan with Nottingham Forest but an unknown injury has kept him out the squad since February with little update on his condition being provided since. The defender has managed only seven Premier League appearances for Nuno Espirito Santo's side and it appears fairly evident that Forest will not be taking up the £12 million buy-option currently in Tavares' loan contract.

It has also been reported that the Portuguese defender is not in any future Arsenal plans with Corriere dello Sport indicating that Serie A side Lazio could be ready to welcome him. This would Tavares reunited with his former Marseille boss Igor Tudor after the latter recently took over from Maurizio Sarri.

The 24-year-old defender spent the 2022/23 season on loan in Ligue 1 and while he wanted to have an option included for Marseille to buy him permanently at the end of the season, Arteta refused. After a rocky beginning to his French league career, Tavares' form improved under the Croatian manager Tudor and the former Benfica man could hope for another resurgence if he is once again in Tudor's squad. Igli Tare - the former Lazio director of football - also tried to sign Tavares back in 2021 before the Gunners swept him up.

Tavares' current Arsenal contract lasts until 2025 meaning the north London side will need to make an important decision on him tis summer but as he is currently 'not in the plans' at the Emirates, a permanent transfer away from Highbury makes the most sense.