Arsenal may have their very own secret weapon in their pursuit of Galatasaray defender Sacha Boey.
The right-back has been mooted as a potential target at right-back to assist Ben White next season. The Gunners are keen to bolster their defensive options this summer, football.london understands.
Initial reports suggested that Arsenal had offered €20million (£17.2m) for Boey, but it's understood that there has not been any proposal made as of yet. However, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Gunners will have to pay £21.6m to bring him to north London.
Boey has established himself as one of the best-performing right-backs outside of Europe's top five divisions in recent years, helping Galatasaray win the Super Lig title this season. The Frenchman's form hasn't gone noticed, with Mikel Arteta's side strongly tipped to sign the 22-year-old.
Right now, it is unclear whether sporting director Edu Gaspar will sanction the move for close to £22m. Arsenal are preparing to go all out to sign West Ham star Declan Rice this summer, costing nearly £100m in total.
However, Arsenal have been handed a cheaper alternative in signing Boey by offering one of their players in exchange. According to Turkish journalist Resat Can Ozbudak, Nuno Tavares' representatives have met with Galatasaray recently over the possibility of a summer move.
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The 23-year-old has spent the 2022/23 season on loan in France with Marseille, playing 39 appearances in all competitions. Tavares has been one of the names mooted to leave the club this summer to raise funds for Arteta's spending and a move to Turkey could be the perfect scenario.
Ozbudak insists the left-back's future will be decided after the upcoming Under-21s European Championship in Romania and Georgia. Tavares' Portugal will face hosts Georgia, the Netherlands and Belgium in Group A and will look to better 2021's runners-up finish by winning the tournament.
Upon his return, should Edu manage to structure a deal with Galatasaray that sees Tavares move to Europe and Boey join Arteta's squad, it would be fair to suggest work well done.
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