Takehiro Tomiyasu has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer, with Crystal Palace keen on signing the Japanese defender.
A report from Daily Mail claims that Arsenal are hoping to sell a number of fringe players this summer. And they are hoping to raise £100 million through player sales. Crystal Palace are looking to take advantage of the situation and sign Takehiro Tomiyasu before the transfer window closes.
The 24-year-old Japanese utility man has struggled for regular game time at the North London club, and a move away would be ideal for him. He will want to play regularly at this stage of his career, and sitting on the bench at Arsenal might not appeal to him.
Crystal Palace were quite vulnerable defensively last season, and they need to bring in quality defensive reinforcements before the window closes. Someone like Tomiyasu could prove to be a useful acquisition for them.
The 24-year-old Japanese international is versatile enough to operate as the right-back as well as a central defender. His versatility will be an added bonus for Crystal Palace if they manage to get the deal done.
Arsenal are clearly open to selling unwanted players this summer, and Crystal Palace will fancy their chances of agreeing on a reasonable price for his services. A move to Selhurst Park would be a major step down for the defender. But he needs to join a club where he will get ample playing time.
If he manages to impress in the Premier League with Crystal Palace in the coming seasons, there is no reason why he cannot secure a move to a big club once again. He was expected to establish himself as a key player for Arsenal when he joined them from Serie A. But things have clearly not gone according to plan for the Japanese international.
It remains to be seen whether he can get his career back on track with regular football in the coming months. Tomiyasu was recently linked with a move to Italy with Inter Milan. Meanwhile, amid Arsenal’s links with Marc Guehi, a part-exchange operation might also be on the cards.