Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has been offered to Napoli ahead of the winter window but Mikel Arteta does not want to lose him in the middle of the season.
The Japanese defender has been a bit part player at Arsenal this season and is currently recovering from a calf injury.
He has a little over 18 months left on his contract and there are suggestions that he could move on from the Gunners in the rapidly approaching January transfer window.
The former Bologna defender has remained a coveted player in Serie A and there is talk of a return to Italy.
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato.com, the defender has been offered to Napoli through intermediaries.
Tomiyasu’s versatility is a quality many teams want and Napoli are in the market for defensive reinforcements in January.
However, a deal seems unlikely to happen at the moment as Arteta does not want to lose him in the middle of the season.
Arsenal are involved in the Premier League title race and are still in the Champions League this season.
The Gunners boss does not want to weaken his squad in the middle of the season and wants to keep Tomiyasu at the Emirates.
It is suggested Napoli would need to make a big offer which would let Arsenal find a replacement.
His possible involvement in the Asian Cup is also an issue for Napoli as he could potentially be available only from the middle of February even if he joins the club.
