Crystal Palace have now shown an interest in the transfer of Arsenal full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu. While the Gunners also have their eyes on singing Eagles talent Marc Guehi.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports that the London rivals are interested in the other’s defender. But Arsenal would face a ‘difficult’ pursuit if Mikel Arteta swoops for Guehi before the sales end. Crystal Palace will also struggle to get Tomiyasu over to Selhurst Park.
Arsenal are set to afford Tomiyasu a larger role at Emirates Stadium this season after Jurrien Timber sustained an ACL injury. Arteta will rely on the 24-year-old to replace the Dutchman, who will miss most of the campaign. He has also already backed Tomiyasu to plug their void.
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Arsenal have now pulled Takehiro Tomiyasu off their transfer list
Arteta introduced the Japan full-back from their bench against Nottingham Forest as Timber could not continue. He also started at Selhurst Park on Monday. But Arsenal ended their 1-0 win at Crystal Palace with 10 men after David Coote gave Tomiyasu a controversial red card.
Tomiyasu will now miss Arsenal’s match at home to Fulham this Saturday as he serves a one-game ban. But Arteta losing Timber for much of his first season in north London has already tempted Arsenal to remove Tomiyasu’s name from the club’s transfer list, per Calciomercato.
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The Gunners were open to letting Tomiyasu leave after Timber established his importance to Arteta straight away. Tomiyasu was also the subject of interest from Inter Milan with Arsenal open to sanctioning his transfer. But Arteta does not want to let him go after Timber’s injury.
So, Crystal Palace will also struggle to sign Tomiyasu if Roy Hodgson advances their interest in his transfer from Arsenal. But the Eagles hold a potential trump card in any talks with the Gunners. Arteta has also identified Crystal Palace star Guehi as a transfer target for Arsenal.
Crystal Palace could capitalise on Arsenal’s interest in Marc Guehi
Arsenal admire what Guehi can add to Arteta’s team but Crystal Palace are loath to sanction his transfer so late in the market. The 23-year-old, who Josef Bursik called an ‘absolute tank’ with England’s U21s in March 2021, is a fundamental part of their backline at Selhurst Park.
Guehi has started each of the Eagles’ first two games against Sheffield United and Arsenal. The four-cap senior England international also started all 37 of his Premier League outings in 2022/23. He even assumed their captaincy at Selhurst Park on a smattering of occasions.
The Eagles are under no pressure to sell their £20m arrival from Chelsea in July 2021, either. Guehi is under contract in south London until June 2026 after joining on a five-year deal. But Crystal Palace could use Guehi’s transfer for Tomiyasu, who Arsenal icon Martin Keown hails.
“Tomiyasu is probably Arsenal’s best out-and-out defender in a one-v-one situation,” Keown said on BT Sport 1 (20/10/22). “Look at how dominant he is in the air. He’s a big boy actually. They have dealt with that problem [of Cody Gakpo] really well.”