Inter Milan are reportedly considering a loan move for out-of-favour Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, but the Gunners only want a permanent sale.
Arsenal’s versatile defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is apparently on the radar of Inter Milan. That’s according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who state the Italian side are keen on having the defender this summer, but only want to add Tomiyasu on loan for the year – without any option to buy.
The Gunners, though, have no interest in allowing Tomiyasu to leave on loan, and would prefer an outright sale instead. It’s suggested that, if the right offer arrives on the table, the 24-year-old could be viewed as expendable.
And it doesn’t come as a surprise, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta currently looking to trim his squad. The Spaniard is working with a pool of 30 players, despite largely picking from an incredibly small number last term as he regularly named an unchanged XI.
Arsenal have brought in Declan Rice for a club-record fee, with Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber also bolstering their ranks. Granit Xhaka has been the only notable departure from the Emirates, with an increase in competition for places.
That could leave certain players struggling for minutes, despite the Gunners competing in multiple competitions this term. The likes of Kieran Tierney, Nicolas Pepe, and Folarin Balogun are all being linked with exits as they seek regular football. It appears the same could be the case for Tomiyasu, who spent periods of last season on the sidelines through injury.
The Japanese international moved to the Emirates two years ago from Bologna and was a mainstay before losing his starting berth last term. New signings and a defensive reshuffle meant he only started six times in the Premier League.
The arrival of versatile Ajax defender Jurrien Timber means that the Gunners could consider a sale without having to worry about a replacement. And Tomiyasu looks to be the latest name on Inter’s shortlist as they seek to finally sign a replacement for Milan Skriniar in the last weeks of the transfer window.
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta looked set to join them at one point, but then the Spaniard rebuffed the Nerazzurri in favour of an Atletico Madrid move instead. Another Chelsea centre-back, Trevoh Chalobah, remains one of their major targets, but the Blues have slapped a whopping £45 million price-tag on the 24-year-old English defender’s proverbial head. Therefore, Inter are back to square one.
Tomiyasu would be an intriguing alternative pick. The 24-year-old has plenty of Serie A experience from his time playing for Bologna. A versatile defender who is capable of playing at both centre-back and full-back, he would fit seamlessly in Simone Inzaghi’s back-three system.
Moreover, Tomiyasu would like more minutes, so he could be open to a move away from north London. While he clearly remains a utility option, it appears that the Gunners would rather prefer to sell Tomiyasu now and reallocate the funds in other areas of the squad.
