Nuno Tavares: Porto linked with move for Lazio and ex-Arsenal left-back

Portugal and Cape Verdeeligible left-back Nuno Tavares of Lazio is being linked with a move to FC Porto as speculation grows over his future in Serie A.

The 26-year-old, currently valued at 12.00m on Transfermarkt, is reported to be on Portos radar, with the Liga Portugal side exploring a potential deal to bring him back to his home country. The probability of a move is currently listed as unclear (?), and there is no publicly listed contract expiry at Lazio, adding to uncertainty over whether he could eventually move for a fee or run down his deal and leave as a free agent.

Tavares joined Lazio permanently from Arsenal on 1 July 2025 after an initial loan spell with the Rome club in 2024-25. His market value has declined from a peak of 25m at Lazio in late 2024 to 12m by the end of May 2026, a trend that may make him a more attainable target for Porto.

Born in Lisbon on 26 January 2000 and standing at 1.83m, Tavares is a left-footed defender whose main position is left-back. He holds both Portuguese and Cape Verdean nationality and has built a career across several top European leagues.

Before moving to Italy, he joined Arsenal from Benfica in July 2021 and later had loan spells with Marseille in Ligue 1 and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. His earlier development came through Sporting CPs youth ranks and multiple Benfica youth and B teams.

Lazio have used him primarily as an attack-minded full-back, and his performances, including recent outings in Serie A, have kept him on the radar of clubs seeking pace and width from deep. A switch to Porto, if it materialises, would return him to Portuguese football and offer a fresh stage on which to stabilise his value and reassert his reputation at the top level.