Arsenal’s Nuno Tavares poised to join Marseille on season-long loan

Arsenal have agreed to send Nuno Tavares on loan to Marseille for the season. The left-back is due to have a medical on Friday before completing a move that will not include an option to buy.

Tavares started 13 Premier League games last season, his first at Arsenal after joining from Benfica for £6.8m, but the 22-year-old is behind Kieran Tierney and the summer arrival Oleksandr Zinchenko in Mikel Arteta’s thoughts.

A proposed deal to take Tavares to Atalanta on loan collapsed, paving the way for Marseille, who have qualified for the Champions League, to take him.

Barcelona have confirmed an agreement to sign Jules Koundé from Sevilla. The defender, who had been a target for Chelsea, will cost about €50m plus add-ons. Barcelona, who also beat Chelsea to the signing of Raphinha from Leeds, said they were “awaiting the player passing a medical and the signing of contracts”.

Middlesbrough have signed the Finland striker Marcus Forss from Brentford on a four-year contract. The 23-year-old joined Hull on loan last January after struggling for game time in the Premier League.