Initially establishing himself as Mikel Arteta's first-choice right-back, Tomiyasu's progress was hindered by injuries, and he fell behind Ben White in the pecking order during the 2021-22 season. Now, with the arrival of Jurrien Timber, Tomiyasu faces added competition for the position.
However, he has been back in action for Arsenal during pre-season after recovering from a knee injury. In a recent game against Monaco, Tomiyasu started and showcased his versatility by switching flanks with Timber during the match. Despite this, he might now be considered Arsenal's third-choice right-back, behind Timber and White, while Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba remain Arteta's first-choice central defenders.
Tomiyasu's contract with Arsenal has only two years left, attracting interest from Inter Milan, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport. Inter sees him as a potential replacement for Milan Skriniar, who left for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after running down his contract.
While Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah has also been linked with a move to San Siro, Inter might find the Blues' £45m asking price too high. As a result, they are hopeful of securing a deal for Tomiyasu at a more reasonable fee.
However, Arsenal is only open to considering a permanent transfer for Tomiyasu, not a loan deal. Therefore, Inter may need to offer a significant fee to entice Arsenal into selling the Japanese defender. The situation remains subject to further developments as both clubs continue negotiations.
