According to a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, West Ham United have joined the race to sign Bologna star Takehiro Tomiyasu alongside Tottenham Hotspur and Atalanta.
The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing defensive additions...
As reported by Claret & Hugh, West Ham have identified a new centre-back as one of the priorities for this summer alongside a permanent deal for Jesse Lingard and new striker.
The club have also been linked with new additions at full-back, with Junior Firpo said to be on the radar according to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee.
Now, as per La Gazzetta, Tomiyasu has entered West Ham's thinking - with the Japan international capable of playing both as a centre-half and right back.
The Latest: West Ham join Tomiyasu race...
Indeed, Tottenham and Atalanta were thought to be the main competitors for Tomiyasu, but West Ham have now joined contention according to this update from Italy.
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A fairly cheap fee of around €20 million (£17m) could even be enough to see him leave Bologna this summer, but it will depend on whether an auction occurs with all the interested parties.
The Hammers and Spurs are also thought to be frontrunners, with Serie A side Atalanta believing it may be futile to compete in a bidding war.
The Verdict: Do it...
We believe that Tomiyasu could be an extremely fruitful option for West Ham given his potentially meagre price tag and many years to come at just 22-years-old.
The 6 foot 2 gem has also been lavished with praise for his performances by Bologna teammate Mitchell Dijks, who called him 'very strong' and a 'warrior' whilst speaking in a press conference this season (Tuttosport).
Indeed, this may well be a fruitful move to keep an eye on for West Ham, but competition will be stiff from their London rivals.
In other news: West Ham fans flock to club announcement, find out more here.