‘Imminent… bags packed’ – Arsenal to seal signing in ‘next few hours’, announcement on way for Gunners

The Portuguese press have this week been bringing big claims on Nuno Tavares moving to Arsenal.

Tuesday’s edition of A Bola had the deal on their front page, explaining that a move was very close. Wednesday sees Record, another Portuguese newspaper, pick up the story and they have a little snippet on their front page describing the move as ‘imminent’.

Inside, they say Tavares will be an Arsenal player ‘in the next few hours’. Negotiations for the move advanced even further on Tuesday, and an agreement between the clubs, and obviously the subsequent announcement, is expected ‘shortly’.

The fullback trained with Benfica yesterday, but already has his ‘bags packed’ to move to the Premier League club. He’ll sign a five year contract with Arsenal, the details of which have already been agreed, and is now just waiting for the signal to tell him it’s all done.

Arsenal’s offer is again put at €8m plus bonuses, and Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira had been hoping to increase the €8m. Regardless of whether he’s been successful or not, Record say this is a deal which is so ‘advanced’, ‘progress will no longer go back’.

Why the big rush? Benfica’s financial year ends today and there’s a good chance they want to include the income in the current accounts.