Tavares is out of favour at Arsenal and has spent the last two seasons on loan away from Emirates Stadium.

The Serie A club's sporting director, Angelo Fabiani, has revealed a deal is close and reports in Italy claim it is an initial loan deal that will be made permanent next summer for around PS7million, while a significant sell-on clause has also been mooted.

"[Tavares] is a player who interests Lazio a lot," he told a press conference on Wednesday.

"There have been talks between the two clubs for an agreement that was reached yesterday.

"Before completing the operation, however, many components must be agreed upon and an agreement must be found with the agents.

"I am more than confident, but for superstitious reasons I will not say that he is already a Lazio player."

"We were already negotiating him last year, we are still in contact with Manchester," he added. "There are still disruptive actions, but this is part of the transfer market.

"Let's say that the devil's advice is eaten by the fox and in this case I am not the devil. I was born optimistic. The market is like money, it never sleeps."

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