Pranav Nair
Manchester United to battle Tottenham Hotspur for Takehiro Tomiyasu
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Manchester United are keeping tabs on promising Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The 22-year-old, who plies his trade for Italian side Bologna, has caught the eye with a number of eye-catching displays. Capable of playing anywhere along the backline, he has made 63 appearances for the club so far, scoring three goals and assists apiece. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Tomiyasu however is not seen as a priority target by United. Interest in him is understandable given the club’s search for a centre-back.
The Red Devils have a number of centre-backs on their radar. It varies from top-notch stars such as Raphael Varane and Pau Torres to more promising ones such as Nikola Milenkovic and now Tomiyasu.
Having appointed Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager, Tottenham Hotspur have made a move to bring Tomiyasu to the Lane. However, their initial offer worth £12.9m plus an extra £2.6m in add-ons was rejected. (h/t Sky Sports)
Talks however continue as Bologna seek at least £17.2m for the 22-year-old. Spurs are not that far off in their valuation and could get their man given United’s passing interest.
According to Calcio Atalanta (h/t The Mirror), United have made contact with the Serie A outfit to register their interest in Tomiyasu. It has however not gone further than a ‘simple phone call’. Whether United will take a late punt to land the Japanese ace remains to be seen.
A defensively astute player, Tomiyasu is also a force to reckon with in the air. Add to it his excellent passing ability and you have a player primed to take the next step in his career.
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Tomiyasu is certainly a cost-effective option when compared to the likes of Pau Torres and Raphael Varane. However, the latter two are also much ahead in their development and can perform for us right off the bat. The Red Devils are better off planning for today than sign a prospect such as the Japanese ace.
