Atalanta have confirmed their interest in Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares.

The Portugal U21 international could be pushed out of the Emirates as Arsenal look to sign Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez.

Serie A club Atalanta are keen on his signature, but their head of senior recruitment, Lee Congerton, admits it will be difficult to sign the 22-year-old.

On Tavares, Congerton said: "I've followed Tavares since he was playing for Benfica's youth team, he's a strong player.

"But Tavares is under contract with Arsenal - and it's really difficult to sign players from Premier League clubs".

Taveres was signed from Benfica last summer in a deal worth £8million.

He was infamously dragged before half-time during January's FA Cup loss away at Nottingham Forest, as well as at the interval against Crystal Palace in April.