Arsenal are preparing to open talks with Takehiro Tomiyasu over a new contract just months after considering selling the Japan international.

Tomiyasu has 18 months left on his contract at the Emirates, though there is an option to extend that by a further 12 months.

However, Gunners chiefs want to prolong his deal after the versatile defender’s excellent start to the the season.

The prospect of Tomiyasu signing a contract extension marks a sharp turnaround in the club’s outlook over the player’s future.

Mail Sport can reveal that Tomiyasu, who is attracting interest from Bayern Munich, was among a list of player that Arsenal were ready to listen to offers for during the closing weeks of the summer window following their near £200million spending spree on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya.

The player had attracted interest from Bayern Munich, but Arteta views him as essential

There was significant interest in Tomiyasu from the Premier League and rival European clubs.

However, the ACL injury suffered by Timber during the opening day victory over Nottingham Forest meant Tomiyasu was immediately removed from the list.

Since then Tomiyau has become a key player under Mikel Arteta and is sharing the responsibility of playing left-back with Oleksandr Zinchenko, whilst also featuring in other roles across the back-four.

The Gunners have embarked on a contract renewal drive with a number of their key players this year; Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli among the players to have signed new deals over the past 12 months.

Ben White is also in advanced talks over an extension with Tomiyasu next in line to open discussions over fresh terms.