Lazio set €20m price for Tavares as Porto and Beşiktaş walk away
Lazio have set a €20 million asking price for full‑back Nuno Tavares as they seek to move on from the out‑of‑favour player, after earlier approaches from Porto and Beşiktaş failed to develop into concrete offers in the summer transfer window for Lazio.
The €20 million valuation carries a significant caveat, as roughly 40 percent of any fee would be owed to Arsenal under the sell‑on clause triggered when Lazio purchased him from the Gunners. This arrangement reduces the net amount Lazio can retain, influencing the club’s willingness to negotiate.
Financial pressure and squad rebuilding
Lazio operate under tight financial constraints, and off‑loading Tavares would help fund the reinforcements requested by coach Gennaro Gattuso. The proceeds are expected to support new signings aimed at strengthening the squad.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, relaying Corriere dello Sport, Tavares is firmly among Lazio’s sacrificeable players, having not featured for a single minute of pre‑season. His absence has turned him into a mysterious figure in the eyes of Gennaro Gattuso.
A lingering knee problem continues to bother the Portuguese left‑back, but the paper frames his troubles as being more about the market than his fitness. Thus, his lack of playing time is seen as a commercial, not medical, issue.
Failed suitors and possible Turkish move
Porto, led by Francesco Farioli, made a move in mid‑July, but the player was not convinced and the deal stalled. The Portuguese club’s interest did not translate into a formal offer.
Beşiktaş pursued Tavares over an extended period, yet the courtship failed to yield anything concrete. The Turkish side’s negotiations ultimately collapsed without a transfer.
The Turkish Super Lig could still re‑enter the picture, as Lazio keep the Portuguese on their list of expendable names. A move to Turkey remains a plausible destination if a suitable offer emerges.
Tavares began his Serie A career with a flurry of assists, but injuries and a difficult second season saw him slip down the pecking order. With his future at a crossroads, a summer exit appears increasingly likely.
A March 15, 2026 photo shows Nuno Tavares competing for the ball with Fikayo Tomori during the Serie A clash between SS Lazio and AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. The image underscores how the left‑back has been absent from recent match action.