West Ham are believed to be ‘monitoring’ Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu ahead of a potential summer transfer.
The 22-year-old Japanese international has also been heavily linked with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and fellow Premier League side Everton.
Hammers’ boss David Moyes is in the market for a central defender after Fabian Balbuena left the club as a free agent.
According to a report from Italian outlet Il Resto di Carlino, as cited by Balls and Bells on Twitter, Tomiyasu is among the frontrunners.
Twitter: Everton and West Ham monitoring Takehiro Tomiyasu – https://t.co/SnWsi00IbJ https://t.co/ICw5UqLB8C (@ballsandbells)
Previous reports have claimed it would take an offer in the region of €25million (£21.4million) to make a deal a reality.
Signed for £6.3million from Belgian club Sint-Truiden in 2019 (Transfermarkt), the versatile defender has gone on to make 63 appearances for the Serie A outfit.
Last season the 23-cap star played 31 times in the league, earning an average Sofascore rating of 6.86 in the process.
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Valued at £18million and under contract in Italy until 2024 (Transfermarkt), signing the Japanese ace would represent a large outlay from the budget.
Equally adept at centre-back or right-back, Tomiyasu would offer excellent versatility to Moyes’ squad.
Furthermore, beating two Premier League rivals to a signing would be another feather in the cap of the Irons.
