Crystal Palace have opened talks with free agent Takehiro Tomiyasu over a permanent deal that would return the Japan international to the Premier League. The 27-year-old, who is currently training with the club and was named among the substitutes for a pre-season friendly against Lens, left Arsenal by mutual consent last season before a brief spell at Ajax.

A broad agreement on terms is reportedly in place should head coach Pierre Sage choose to proceed, with Tomiyasu seen as a potential option on the left of a three-man central defence Palace plan to deploy next season. Concerns remain over his fitness given recent knee problems, though the club are said to rate his ability. The move is part of a wider defensive rebuild following Maxence Lacroix's expected departure to Chelsea, with Palace also pursuing Augsburg's Chrislain Matsima (around a £25.7m deal), a possible loan for Chelsea's Josh Acheampong, and interest in Brest's Raphael le Guen.