According to The Evening Standard, West Ham are targeting a move for Bologna powerhouse Takehiro Tomiyasu.
What’s the word?
The Hammers have had a fairly quiet start to the transfer window thus far in terms of incomings, with the big piece of news revolving around Grady Diangana’s imminent £18m exit to newly-promoted West Brom.
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However, The Evening Standard claim that following Diangana’s move, West Ham are ready to back David Moyes in the transfer market, and that the funds that they get from that sale will be reinvested.
The report adds that Bologna ace Tomiyasu is one name they are looking at, although they are set to face competition from Newcastle for his signature.
Imagine him and Declan Rice
Whilst the 6 foot 2 Tomiyasu has predominantly played at right-back in Italy, he does have the versatility to play as either a central defender or even holding midfielder.
And it’s his potential partnership with Rice in midfield that really stands out as becoming the Hammers’ future.
Last season, he averaged an impressive 1.4 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game, and if Tomiyasu sits a little deeper to protect the back-line, that could allow Rice to become more of a threat going forward as a box-to-box midfielder.
The Japan international has previously gone on record to say that he idolised former Hammer Javier Mascherano, and has since revealed his ambition to become a “leader at the back” for Bologna.
If Moyes is looking for someone to bring a bit of solidity to their starting line-up, then the 21-year-old Tomiyasu can offer that in abundance.
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