Southampton and West Ham United are interested in signing Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu from Serie A outfit Bologna, according to Calciomercato.
Only nine Japanese footballers have ever played in the Premier League and one of those is still part of the Saints’ squad; albeit having spent the last few months out on loan.
Maya Yoshida has been a huge hit at St Mary’s and, perhaps inspired by the success of the long-serving centre-back, the south coast club are ready to take the plunge on another Asian sensation.
Reports in Italy suggest that Southampton are battling West Ham and Roma for the signature of Tomiyasu.
A 6ft 2ins defender who can play at centre-half, right-back and in a deep-lying midfield role, the 18-cap international has been a big hit since moving to Bologna from Belgian football last summer.
“He immediately impressed us because he is very good with his feet and can adapt to all defensive roles,” says ex-Juventus striker and current Bologna scout Marco di Viao, speaking to CM.
“We imagined him in the role of right-back but, in the near future, we are convinced that moving to the centre can improve him further.”
Bologna are understandably determined to hang on to Tomiyasu, as sporting director Walter Sabatini made clear recently when he claimed that the 21-year-old was not for sale this summer.
But West Ham or Southampton could perhaps twist their arm, particularly in an era in which clubs all over Europe are being forced to keep a close eye on their finances.
It is no secret that the Saints and the Hammers are in the market for a new right-back, with Cedric Soares and Pablo Zabaleta set to depart when the season comes to an end.
