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Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is reportedly interested in securing a transfer away from his club in the upcoming winter transfer window.
Tomiyasu, who left Bologna for close to £16 million in 2021, has recently dropped down in the Gunners' pecking order. Moreover, he has yet to make an appearance this season as he is nursing a knee injury.
Now, according to Italian news outlet Calciomercato.com, Tomiyasu is prepared to depart Arsenal next January. Inter Milan, Juventus, and Napoli are all keen to seal the Japanese full-back's signature next year.
Before joining the north London club, Tomiyasu made 61 appearances in the Serie A for Bologna between 2019 and 2021. The Avispa Fukuoka youth product scored three goals and registered three assists in 60 starts in the league, operating mainly as a right-back.
Tomiyasu, who is reportedly rated at around £17 million, started just 16 matches in all competitions for Arsenal last campaign. The 25-year-old recorded two goals and three assists in 30 overall outings last term.
Chris Sutton offers prediction for upcoming Manchester City-Arsenal league encounter
In his column for BBC, ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton backed Manchester City to beat Arsenal 2-1 in their Premier League encounter at Etihad Stadium this Sunday (September 22). He wrote:
"I don't like to back against Arsenal because, defensively, they are so strong. They have won all but one of their 11 away league games in 2024 – the exception being that [0-0] draw at the Etihad in March – and have kept nine clean sheets. That is incredible and, if they wanted to, they could cause City problems on the counter-attack."
Sutton, who lifted the famed Premier League title in 1995, concluded:
"Still, it is almost two years since City failed to score in two successive games – October 2022, when they drew 0-0 in Copenhagen in the Champions League and then lost [1-0] at Anfield in the Premier League. I am expecting a reaction, and I don't think they will be as flat as they were on Wednesday [against Inter Milan]."
While the Cityzens are second in the 2024-25 Premier League table with 12 points from four games, Mikel Arteta's side are fifth with 10 points.
After losing a whopping 15 out of 16 games between 2017 and 2023, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last three games against City. They have won two and drawn one of their past three overall meetings.
