Arsenal star Takehiro Tomiyasu opens talks over deal - Sources

By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

1st Dec, 2023 | 4:00pm

Sources: Arsenal star Takehiro Tomiyasu opens talks over deal

Arsenal are in advanced talks with defender Takehiro Tomiyasu over a new contract amid interest from German giants Bayern Munich, sources have told Football Insider.

It is believed talks with the full-back have been progressing well and the Gunners are eager to tie him down to fresh terms as soon as possible.

Tomiyasu, 25, is happy in north London and Arsenal are confident that he will pen a new contract – with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2025.

Bayern are interested in the Japan international as the January window approaches, but a well-placed source has told Football Insider that manager Mikel Arteta sees him as a key part of his plans at the Emirates Stadium.

As revealed by Football Insider last month (13 November), Thomas Tuchel’s side are eager to bolster their defensive options and are also plotting a move for Tottenham’s Eric Dier.

Tomiyasu has impressed for Arsenal this season and clinched the club’s Player of the Month award for October.

He shone in the Champions League against Lens in midweek (29 November), notching two assists in the 6-0 victory.

Arteta brought him to Arsenal from Serie A side Bologna in 2021, and he has gone on to make 71 appearances for the club – including 18 this season in all competitions.

He was reduced to mostly substitute appearances at the beginning of the campaign, but has started the last three Premier League games and in their last four Champions League outings.

As revealed by Football Insider last month (20 November), Arsenal are also keen to bring in new attacking recruits in 2024 and have Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic identified as potential options.

The Gunners sit at the summit of the Premier League table after Kai Havertz scored late to secure a 1-0 victory over Brentford last week (25 November).

In other news, Arsenal land £31m jackpot with more to come.