Sources: Tomiyasu tells friends he has ‘heart set’ on joining Tottenham after bid tabled
Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has told friends he has his heart set on joining Tottenham, Football Insider can reveal.
Spurs are locked in a battle with Atalanta over the capture of the defender, 22, in this summer’s window.
The Londoners have offered £15.5million including add-ons for Tomiyasu but Bologna are holding out for £17.2million.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Spurs and Atalanta are both still in talks with Bologna but the 23-times Japan international has told his inner circle he wants to join the Premier League outfit.
That is a huge boost to Tottenham managing director Fabio Paratici as he looks to finalise his club’s first summer signing.
Paratici made his first significant decision with the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo earlier this week.
On the pitch, Spurs' top priority is to bolster their defence.
Football Insider learned yesterday (1 July) they are set for a bidding war with Everton for Wolves captain Conor Coady.
Nuno discussed the England international during talks before he was formally announced as the new boss on Wednesday evening.
While Coady, 28, would offer Premier League experience, Tomiyasu would be a long-term solution to their shaky defence.
He is highly regarded in Italy and will be well-known to Paratici after his nine years with Juventus.
Tomiyasu, who is capable of operating at centre-back and right-back, has played 63 times for Bologna in his two-year spell at the club.
He arrived for a £9million fee from Belgian top-flight side Sint-Truidense in the summer of 2019.