Arsenal can sell ‘world class’ defender to raise final transfer funds for Arteta

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta can raise funds for one final transfer by selling defender Takehiro Tomiyasu. The Japan international, who was once hailed as ‘world class’ by team-mate Ben White, has been linked with an exit from the Premier League side. 

Tomiyasu has played a bit-part role since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium in 2021. He featured at right-back in his first season, but the emergence of William Saliba saw White pushed into Tomiyasu’s role. 

Despite deputising for the injured Jurrien Timber over the last few weeks, the 24-year-old has been linked with a transfer in the final few weeks of the window. Reports claim that Crystal Palace could be interested in a deal. 

Tomiyasu was sent off against the Eagles on Monday night, but that has reportedly not prevented the South Londoners from expressing an interest. The Daily Mail claims that he is one of Palace’s options to improve their defensive depth. 

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Arsenal paid around £18million to sign Tomiyasu from Bologna two years ago. Sporting director Edu and head coach Arteta will therefore expect a hefty fee for a player once ranked among the best right-backs in the world by a team-mate. 

“Tomi is amazing. He’s the best right-back I’ve ever played with. He’s always focused. It’s an honour to play next to him,” defender White said in January 2022, midway through Tomiyasu’s first season in the Premier League. 

“Tomi does the simple things at a world-class level. He is very alert and he isn’t careless in games. From the beginning, he’s completely understood English and speaks as well as I do.”

Arsenal would be able to spend that money on one more signing. Arteta has already made four additions – Timber, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and David Raya (on loan) – at a cost of well over £200m. 

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But another deal might be the difference in the Gunners toppling Manchester City and winning the Premier League. Another attacking reinforcement could be likely, with Gabriel Jesus’s injuries proving to be an issue, and Eddie Nketiah not finding consistency. 

Wide-ranging reports suggest that Arsenal would be interested in signing Ansu Fati from Barcelona. The exciting winger has seen his development stall at Camp Nou and an exit has been mooted, amid Xavi Hernandez’s preference for other wingers. 

According to Goal, an unnamed Premier League made a £43m (€50m) offer for Fati earlier this summer. It is likely that Arsenal would need to pay much more, making it necessary that they raise funds through a big sale.

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