Report: £17m star wants to leave Arsenal in January, he’s not happy with his playing time
Is this the right call❓
Although Takehiro Tomiyasu has often been injured since he arrived at Arsenal in 2021, the Japan international has been crucial when he’s played.
It’s hard to remember a poor Tomiyasu performance in an Arsenal shirt, a defender who offers a similar level of versatility to Jurrien Timber across the back line.
Jakub Kiwior was performing well as a left-back last season – he was increasingly able to invert into midfield.
However, as soon as Tomiyasu was fit, Mikel Arteta turned to the 25-year-old who he bought from Bologna – the same path now trodden by Riccardo Calafiori.
If we were injury-free right now, Tomiyasu would perhaps be first back-up at both right centre-back and full-back, a player Arteta would evidently trust to start.
Takehiro Tomiyasu decides it’s time to leave Arsenal amid Serie A interest
According to Italian source Calciomercato, several Serie A sides are now interested in bringing Tomiyasu back to the country in January.
Napoli, Juventus and Inter Milan are said to be waiting for the transfer window to open in order to make their move, sensing an opportunity because of the defender’s reduced game time.
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And on the player’s part, the source believes that Tomiyasu is ready to leave Arsenal, a defender who has fallen further down the pecking order since Calafiori signed.
The Italian source also claims that Arteta has green-lighted Tomiyasu leaving the club, with a price tag of €20m (£17m) in place.
Juventus are set to make an enquiry in January, seemingly turning their attention away from Kiwior.
Selling Jakub Kiwior is a more pressing concern for Arsenal
Despite his injury woes, Tomiyasu would certainly not appear as the defender Arsenal need rid of first and foremost.
The Japan international is still well-equipped to follow Arsenal’s journey, he can cope with Arteta’s tactical and physical demands the whole way.
However, Kiwior isn’t quite in the same boat, a defender who is perhaps now surplus to requirements after Calafiori was recruited.
Arsenal need to sell Kiwior as soon as possible for the sake of his own progress as much as their own – it’s hard to see when he’ll play for Arteta again.
Perhaps the same could be said for Oleksandr Zinchenko, however, he could still be useful when playing against a low-block at the Emirates.
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