Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly identified Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares as a potential replacement for Marc Cucurella.
Cucurella has been strongly linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City, who have recently had an opening offer of £30m rejected by the Seagulls.
Both Brighton and Man City remain in talks over Cucurella, although the Citizens are unwilling to meet the left-back's £50m valuation.
Should Graham Potter's side reach an agreement to sell the Spaniard to City, Portuguese news outlet O Jogo claims that Brighton will look to step up their interest in Arsenal's Tavares.
The report adds that the Seagulls are exploring the possibility of taking the 22-year-old on a season-long loan deal, which could appeal to the Gunners who are allegedly open to letting the defender leave this summer.
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Brighton could face competition from both Atalanta BC and Marseille for Tavares's signature, with the former understood to have enquired over a possible loan move.
However, the report adds that the Amex Stadium is currently the most likely destination for Tavares if he agrees to leave Arsenal this summer.
Tavares joined Arsenal from Benfica in a deal worth around £7.2m last summer, and penned a contract until June 2025.
The Lisbon-born left-back was added to Mikel Arteta's squad to provide cover for Kieran Tierney, but the former went on to make 28 appearances across all competitions last season as the latter spent several weeks on the sidelined with due to injury.
Tavares, however, received criticism for his performances with the Gunners, including cameo appearances against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in which he was taken off before half time by Arteta.
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Arsenal are now prepared to let the defender leave the club either on loan or on a permanent deal, although it remains to be seen whether interested clubs are prepared to meet his €40m (£34.4m) asking price.
Tavares is expected to fall further down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners are on the verge of signing Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City.
The Ukraine international has agreed personal terms on a four-year contract with the North London outfit, and the versatile left-back has been spotted in Orlando wearing the club's training kit ahead of finalising his £30m transfer.
A potential transfer merry-go-round could therefore be on the cards this summer should Cucurella join City, Zinchenko move to Arsenal and Tavares sign temporarily with Brighton.
Oliver Thomas
