Graham Roberts believes Tottenham Hotspur have been been frustrated in their efforts to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu because Bologna increased the defender's price tag.

Spurs have been heavily linked with Tomiyasu throughout the transfer window and respected football journalist Fabrizio Romano has alleged the Japan international wants to join the north London club.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Spurs remain in pole position to sign Tomiyasu. However, the report suggests Premier League rivals West Ham United and Leicester City have also been keeping tabs on the centre-half.

Despite Spurs' long-term interest in Tomiyasu, he remains on the books of Serie A outfit Bologna and has just returned from the Olympic Games, where he made three appearances for host nation Japan.

Mike McGrath, a journalist at the Daily Telegraph, has claimed Tomiyasu could still move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the closure of the transfer window.

Club legend Roberts believes Spurs' pursuit of the 22-year-old has similarities to Manchester City's frustrations in trying to acquire Harry Kane.

He exclusively told The Transfer Tavern: "He's been away with Japan. Obviously, someone has been in touch with the agents he has but it's not them we need to worry about.

"All of a sudden the figure has gone up and they want more money, but they're not going to get it. 

"It's like Manchester City and Tottenham. Tottenham had a price for Harry Kane and it was a case of you either meet that or you don't get him. Bologna have a price and if we don't want to match it, we won't get him. That's it."