After Balogun, Inter Milan could now make £17m bid to sign 24-year-old Arsenal defender

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Inter Milan are now considering a bid to sign Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu this summer.

That’s according to journalist Pasquale Guarro, posting on social media about the Japanese international.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be finalising his team for the opening Premier League game right now.

Much of the side picks itself, but there are several positions that still need some attention.

Given Gabriel Jesus’s injury, it will be interesting to see if Arteta perseveres with Kai Havertz or gives Eddie Nketiah the nod.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is also expected to be absent, meaning Arteta needs to select a new left-back.

New signing Jurrien Timber was picked against Manchester City on Sunday, which is a blow to both Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Inter now sense an opportunity and want to sign Tomiyasu from Arsenal this summer.

It’s unclear how much game time he’ll get this season, especially as his versatility has now been matched by the young Dutchman.

Inter want Arsenal defender Tomiyasu

Posting on social media, Guarro said: “#Inter, if in the end the name for the attack were to materialize in [Marko] Arnautovic, the Nerazzurri could present a 20 million offer euros [£17.2m] to Arsenal for [Takehiro] Tomiyasu.”

As Guarro mentions, Inter need to raise some funds before making a move for the 24-year-old.

They’ve faced a similar issue with trying to sign Folarin Balogun, who they’re very keen on.

However, the young forward’s asking price is too high right now, despite constant contact between the two clubs.

A report from Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Arsenal have put a £25.8m asking price on Tomiyasu.

Inter will think they’re in a better position to negotiate with Arsenal for Tomiyasu.

Their expected offer isn’t too far away from what the Gunners want, but it may come down to whether Arteta is actually keen to sell the 24-year-old.

Tomiyasu is likely to be third-choice in his preferred right-back position, down the pecking order through the middle and seemingly not Zinchenko’s deputy on the left.

Aside from an injury crisis, it’s hard to see Tomiyasu playing in anything but the cup competitions.

It will be interesting to see if Tomiyasu is happy with that role in the squad, or if he ends up pushing for a move.