DEAL ON: Aston Villa open talks over deal for Arsenal defender

Aston Villa have opened negotiations with their counterparts at Premier League rivals Arsenal, over a deal for an out-of-favour member of the Gunners’ defensive ranks.

The player in question? Nuno Tavares.

The subject of left-back Tavares’ future, of course, has long taken its place front and centre in the headlines on the red half of north London.

This comes with the Portuguese, despite a productive loan stint in France with Olympique Marseille last season, yet to convince Mikel Arteta of his credentials as a regular contributor to his squad.

A host of clubs from across the continent, in turn, have been tipped as potential landing spots for Tavares.

Earlier this week, meanwhile, a new favourite appeared to have emerged in the race for his services, amid claims that Nottingham Forest were in advanced negotiations over a deal for the 23-year-old.

After talks between the respective boards at the City Ground and Emirates broke down, however, the door was opened for fellow suitors to reposition themselves in the Tavares sweepstakes.

And, as alluded to above, on Sunday, one such rival Premier League outfit have done exactly that.

As per a report from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa are ‘exploring conditions of deal to sign Nuno Tavares from Arsenal’.

The former Benfica talent, it is understood, has been identified as an alternative target to Sevilla star Marcos Acuna by Unai Emery and co.