Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has put pen to paper on a new contract at the Emirates, according to a report.
The Japan international's injury problems have reared their ugly heads again, but he remains a favourite among the Arsenal fanbase and within Mikel Arteta's squad.
A productive first half of the campaign saw Tomiyasu muster one goal and three assists from 20 games in all competitions, opening his account for the club in October's 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.
After shining as a centre-back during his time at Bologna, the 25-year-old has now excelled on the right and left-hand sides of the Arsenal backline, although he has not played for the Gunners since their New Year's Eve loss to Fulham due to an injury sustained at the Asian Cup.
However, Tomiyasu's latest issue is not expected to keep him sidelined for much longer, and sporting director Edu has prioritised a new-and-improved deal for the defender owing to his exceptional displays earlier in the term.
According to The Sun, Tomiyasu has now signed on the dotted line, and official confirmation of his new deal is likely to arrive once he has made a full recovery from his latest injury.
The 25-year-old, whose current deal runs out in the summer of 2025, is apparently in line for a wage increase to £100,000 a week - double his current £50,000 weekly salary - on account of his strong first half of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a move for Tomiyasu before the Gunners swooped to complete a last-minute deal in the summer 2021 window, and the ex-Bologna man has now played 73 times for Arteta's side, scoring once and providing six assists.
Tomiyasu is said to be one of two Arsenal full-backs on the verge of extending their contracts, as the report adds that Ben White is also "extremely close" to agreeing a renewal.
White's existing terms do not expire until the summer of 2026, but he is still on the same agreement he signed upon his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion in the same summer that Tomiyasu touched down at the Emirates.
After a strong end to the 2021-22 season and brilliant start to the 2022-23 campaign, Edu embarked on a mission to tie the core of Arsenal's young team down to new, long-term contracts, and seven players have put pen to paper since the start of last term.
Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson and Martin Odegaard have all extended their stays, as has Aaron Ramsdale, but the Englishman was demoted to second choice behind David Raya a matter of months later.
Ramsdale is expected to push for a move elsewhere this summer, but he will make just his sixth Premier League start of the season in Saturday's London derby with Brentford, whom Raya is ineligible to face.
Arteta also expects Saka (illness) and Martinelli (foot) to shake off their concerns in time for the weekend, but Jurrien Timber is still sidelined as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Victory for Arsenal on Saturday would propel them to the top of the Premier League rankings for at least a day before Manchester City and Liverpool clash in their blockbuster Anfield battle. body check tags ::
