West Ham are interested in signing Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, according to reports in the Italian media.

The Japanese international has been the subject of bids from Tottenham this summer, but the North London club have since agreed a deal for Atalanta’s Cristian Romero instead.

It has now emerged that the Hammers and Arsenal have also made contact about Tomiyasu. The 22-year-old is a centre-back so David Moyes’ side may well be looking at him as a potential backup option if a move for Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic doesn’t work out.

Tomiyasu is likely to cost a similar amount to the Serbian, with it being claimed that Bologna are demanding in excess of €20m (£17m) for the defender.

It is believed that West Ham have made progress in their talks to snap up Milenkovic so, at this stage, the Irons’ interest in Tomiyasu is not expected to go beyond an enquiry.